Nate wrote:
Ya-Nvr-No wrote:
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I HATE GCODE
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Terrible for programming, but relatively easy to implement on machines and with a nearly universally supported subset.
But yet i find no good laser controller just the boring ones that convert raster image into a series of burn marks.
This whole adventure to me is to drive my laser to do the unique, not to follow Gcode not convert raster into a smoke filled box that produces the same as a commercial system. As a hobbyist I strive to create the unusual and spur my imagination.
If I want to use old school Gcode I have 5 other 4 to 6 axis machine builds here that will make me some cool things. But I am ready to blow my mind with the unimaginable items that can be created only thru creative math and thinking beyond the past. I've been coding well over 30 years even taught at the university level. Just because there is a comfortable old seat don't mean you have to use it. It takes years of coding and using hundreds of different controllers to start to fully understand this PLC Gcode environment is old school but of course perfect for industry. We have to realize we have the computer power now to take it to the next level. You can bet that NASA don't use the same code cause it worked to get them to the moon. Just because that old pickup gets you to Wal-Mart does not stop you from dreaming "if only".
As they say "Think outside the box" Have fun, learn and adapt, as we can not live in the past and to develop any coding imagination we have to have the tools that provide it.
I do not forget this is my hobby and I do this out of pure enjoyment. I spent years as Tool & Die Maker and many more as a Manufacturing & contract programming Engineer, now can apply my experience to get a job done for me and have fun at it.
There are a lot of good coders out there that know macro B or even a few that know macro A too, But in all the years of doing this there is a small subset that can write Macro code, know what keeper relays does and then can add them with Fanuc Fapladder logic code, then add Mcodes and additional hardware I/O for loading & unloading and integrating a turnkey system. I can tell you it is a pita and c++ scripting is a breeze next to that. And the best part
"Art at this time is providing it FREE" Go out and price the upgrade to a Fanuc controller to add Macro B or to add an Mcode. Call them up and ask if they can write you a special function? Ask your local machine coder what he charges to add that feature. After he gets done laughing you will realize the ability learning scripting can do for you.