Milling
From Wiki
The RapMan can be converted to do milling. This page shall give a small howto of the steps required to do so.
First you have to get or print a milling toolhead that can be mounted instead of the extruder.
Contents |
toolheads
the following toolhead designs where created for the RepMan:
If you improve an existing printable toolhead-design, please consider sharing your improvements, so that others may again improve it.
workflow
basics
Coordinates:
When checking the generated G-Code, see here for valid coordinates.
milling PCBs
Software required: Visolate or a pcb-milling eagle-script.
First you need your PCB layout to be exported into a gerber file. (As a simple and small example for testing your mill you can use the RepRap OptoEndstop.)
Then you can run "java -jar Visolate.jar", load your gerber-file in the topmost part of the screen, adust the settings (this tool uses inch instead if mm), process it via "make toolpath" and save the gcode via the "browse"-button next to "Save G-Code".
WARNING: currenly visolage generates relative coordinates in G-Code that RapMan does not understand. I am currently working on a patch to make it usable with the RepMan.
You may then inspect the generated gcode to see that is works within the table coordinates of the RepMan.
TODO: more details are needed here
milling in 3D
Skeinforge is not limited to creating gcode for extruding. By selecting "Milling as "profile type" and "End Mill" as the "Profile Selection" you can create gcode-files for milling an stl object out of a block. e.g. for Engraving.
- Flow->Flow Rate - should be 0 if the extruder is not disconnected electrically
- Export->(*) gcode-step warning: in current Skeinforge versions this setting is global and affects all profiles including Extrusion. (This is supposed to change in later versions)
- Export->Gcode step->[x] Add Z even when unchanged
- Export->Gcode step->X offset (millimeters) 2.9 - you may need to change this if your object is somewhere else on the build-platform
- Export->Gcode step->Y offset (millimeters) 30.3 - you may need to change this if your object is somewhere else on the build-platform
- Export->Gcode step->Z offset (millimeters) 0
- Export->Gcode step->X Step length (millimeters) 1
- Export->Gcode step->Y Step length (millimeters) 1
- Export->Gcode step->Z Step length (millimeters) 1
- Feed->Feed Rate (mm/s): this determines how fast the mill will move through material. Be VERY carefull with this setting or things may break.
- Mill->Loop Outset over Perimeter Width: this determines how much material there is around the model in X and Y to remove as the raw material is usually larger then the model.
Now inspect the generated g-code.
- For Skeinforge-versions before 2010-01-29 remove any line with a Z-coordinate like "Z-91234567280". You may use a command like "cat in_export.bfb | grep -v " Z-912" > out.bfb"
TODO: this needs to be tested with actual wood to mill. In a dry-run it performed well but may be too fast and maybe some sizes are still wrong.
