So being new, what is the post processer used for. And for v carve pro I need to download a universal g cde sender
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The post processor is what creates gcode specific to the CNC controller. For the X-Carve that is Grbl.
Once you have loaded the post processor into your āMy_PostPā directory Vcarve is smart enough to select it automatically for you every time you save a gcode file (āSave Toolpathā).
It is The āUniversal Gcode Senderā which can be found here http://bit.ly/1hftIhy
UGS will do a good job of sending your gcode file to the X-Carve.
So I started a project, it acts like itās going to work but carve an inch over the board then alarms out. Says something about null. When I use easel it works perfect.
I had that problem with UGS 1.8 and never figured out what the heck the computer was talking about with ānullā. I downloaded the nightly build of 2.0 some time ago and havent had a problem since.
sounds like either your using the wrong post processor OR the one you are using needs some editing. If its doing what mine did its throwing the null error because of a tool change command at the beginning of the file. take out the T1M6 command and it should be ok
This may seem obvious to someā¦ but do you position your z with tool tip touching before you send the gcode? Like in easel? My tool has gone wildly off course a few times plunging way into waste board. Toolpaths ive sent from aspire look perfect, but i have yet to successfully carve anything using ugs. Easel works fine.
Hi @Frosty, here are the steps I use with success. I zero the X and Y axis and hit Rest Zero in the UGS interface. I then, if necessary, move to a spot on the material that I want to zero against and place a thin piece of paper or plastic in the top of the material. I lower the Z until I the space between the bit and the material is close enough that it just slices paper when being pulled out. I then note the Z height in the UGS UI, move it to 0 on the X, Y and then reset Zero again to ensure you have all the X, Y and Z at zero before picking up the file the G-Code in it. Hit run and you should be good to go.
I just purchased a touch plate which will make the Z axis zeroing more accurate but that is this weekends challenge.
Hope this helps you.
Oh and one other thing. I always use all inches in my Aspire and G-Code post processor. In UGS I leave in in MM when jogging the AXIS, I find if you do use inches in that UI you need to go back to MM and jog something otherwise you get crazy results.
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excellent response, in terms a noob can understand thank you very much! I have found that i can do all my vectors in aspire then import the svg, which is very handy imo. since easel is kind of lacking in that department.
I am in pre-sales research mode, and need to know the same. Did you receive any answers on this? Also, what is āPost-Processingā, is it like a āPlug-Inā for external software or something?
I really wish that Inventables would make more videos to clarify and update old onesā¦ we shouldnāt have to be junior engineers, or software developers, simply to hobby on making other projects which we are focused onā¦ Engineering, testing, debugging isnāt for everyone.
Ahhhā¦ so, it functions fundamentally in the same way as a standard āPrinter Driverā, then I take it?
If so, do the cutter options to send to the Post-Processor and cutter show up 3D party software to recognize the g-code and cutter?
Interesting indeed. I suppose that I expected 3D Subtractive terminology would be more aligned with Additive.
This stuff is going to break my Brain. LOL
I wish that they would post clear videos on the matter.
Just for kicks (and maybe to confuse you just a bit more?)
An analogy I use is your design software saves the g-code in a generic fashion. Lets call this the kings english (british) language.
A specific machine may understand most of the file, but does itās best with a southern american drawal. some bits are lost in translation and the machine acts unpredictably when the appropriate āyāallā isnt applied at the appropriate time and the speech itself is too proper overall.
The post processor works like a universal translator, putting the correct inflections to what the xcarve āhearsā so it knows what to do and when to do it.
But then again I may be off base altogether. Iām any thing but totally literate about alot of what goes on with this wonder gadget in my shopā¦
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@JkWestphal thatās a pretty good analogy.
As mentioned above, I always kinda thought of the post-processing in the same way as the printer drivers we use for our printers.
We may all use MS Word to type out our thesis, but because we all have slightly different printers, we all need to to use the print driver thatās relevant to the printer we actually have. Even if weāre all printing the same document, if we have different printers, weāll each need to use the driver thatās specifically designed for the printer weāre using.
Except of course in the CNC world, we need to have a post processor for metric, and another separate one for imperial unitsā¦
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Each set of software will have its own various ways of teaching the user. It is on the different software creators to guide its users in this way. Vectric has a lot of great video tutorials on how to produce V-Carving tool pathsā¦ there are also post processors for X-Carve for Vectric software. Go take a look at their videos and see if the videos are what you are looking for.
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Thatās okā¦ itās an analogy that I can comprehendā¦ Unfortunately I am no engineer, and my āMaker skillsā are as of yet, quite wanting. LOL
Every expert was once a beginner, We all came into this world pretty much only knowing four things, eat sleep, scream and poop.
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Does anyone have a full set of tool settings for vcarve that match the bits that inventables sells? The default tool set in vcarve is meant for larger machines, higher rpm and feedrates. Iām not an expert at figuring out these settings for a colt router running on a 1000mm xcarveā¦
Hi Allen,
your info on using the post processor has been helpfull, but Iām having problems finding the āMy_PostPā directory.
Can you tell me where to locate it, or create it if need be.
Iāve been through the vectric folders on my pc and cannot find it anywhere.
Kind Regards
Brendan
Start Vcarve, then click on the āFileā Menu
Then click on the āOpen Application Data Folder Item ā¦ā item
This will cause Windows to open a file explorer window showing all the sub directories for Vcarve
The path will look similar to: (the exact name may vary depending on your machine and where you told Vcarve to install)
C:\ProgramData\Vectric\VCarve Desktop\V8.0
You should see a My_PostP directory in the folder, if there is not a My_PostP director you should create it.