Gallery
Trispokedovetiles: CNC code to cut tiles
by
Peter Dow
December 2016
peterdow@talk21.com
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Use the 'CNC Code BASIC' button below to generate basic CNC G-code to cut trispokedovetiles here, from where it can be copied and pasted into a text file and saved for use with a CNC laser or other cutting machine. INSTRUCTIONS - Select cutting option (X,Y - laser, waterjet or plasma) or (X,Y,Z - milling or router). The HEXAGON length (see diagram) must be input as mm. The CIRCLE length and HOLE (centre/spokes) and CORNER diameters must be input as a % of 100% of the HEXAGON length, though mm equivalents are displayed. Leave 'spaced' unticked to cut tiles as assembled for laser or other narrow kerf width cutting. Input the number of rows (#ROWS) and the maximum number of tiles per row (#TILES/ROW) and the sheet size x & y in mm. Tick 'spaced' to space tiles out and to define a tool path with kerf width allowance for rotary tool widths. Adjust TOOL PATH diameter equal to the rotary tool diameter minus the tolerance. The CORNER diameter can be set larger than the tool path diameter if desired. Set z to the up / down movement required (sheet thickness plus clearance) in mm. Check "+ simulator commands?" to "no" if the code is not for CNC Simulator Pro. Uncheck "+(comments)?" to remove my comments from the CNC code. Note that clicking "DRAW' the trispokedovetiles display to the left illustrates inputs for CIRCLE %, HOLES %, CORNER %, tiles spaced/unspaced but doesn't illustrate the number of tiles to be cut. Clicking the buttons overwrites these instructions with G-code. So RELOAD this webpage to re-read, while discarding the code and resetting inputs.
Use the 'CNC Code MACRO' button to generate advanced CNC G-code here which employs variables, conditions, loops and a subprogram, requiring a CNC machine with an activated macro interpreter which is compatible with CNC Simulator Pro. 'CNC Code MACRO' is recommended particularly for a large number of tiles because the text of the code file is a compact 5KB and is conveniently independent of the number of tiles. The 'CNC Code BASIC' button generates simple, straight-forward but verbose G-code, above - nearly 1KB of code for every tile which means 100s of tiles requires 100s of KBs of code and 10s of seconds to generate so the number of tiles is limited to less than 1000 to prevent browser difficulties.
CNC Code:
simulator?
+(....)?
Waterjet/Plasma
Laser
(X,Y)
Milling/Router
(X,Y,Z)
Z-axis
z
mm
CIRCLE
%
centre
%
spokes
%
Corners:
%
?
%
?
mm
hole
?
mm
hole
?
mm
?
mm
spaced
Tool
%
path
?
mm
colours / text
HEXAGON
mm
#Rows
#Tiles
per row
Sheet size (mm)
x
y
Feed-rate
Cutting on
Dwell
ms
Cutting off
Optional stops
End of file