Converting Sketchup to Gcode
Quick links to Own Webpages
Clock & Gear Making References
Colin's Clock making background
When making 3D objects on a CNC machine you are faced with another dimension of complexity. 3D designing and machining is still however a lot of fun and great to watch on the CNC machine. It is also becoming very popular with 3D printing machines such as Reprap, MakerBot, Ultimator etc (and here) - which really sounds like a lot of fun.
I may even get one of these heads to fit on my own CNC machine one day.
When making a 3D object I strongly believe that it's still worth taking time to really think about alternative designs and how to simplify the design as multiple 2D designs instead - It's then possible to achieve the same results. This will save you a Hugh amount of time.
I use Google Sketchup, Blender and Cut3D for my 3D projects. I normally alway first do freehand rendering and plasticine models to get a better overview of what I am actually designing.
Here are some useful open source or freeware CAD/CAM/CNC programs that I've found really useful when trying to make the necessary 3D CNC code for my projects. Please leave a message if you have other userful tips.
1. Conversion from Sketchup to G-Code
1. First ensure you've installed the free version of google sketchup (sketchup.google.com) and get familiar with drawing. Then to convert the drawings into g-code do the following:
2. If you don't have a CNC code converter then try this free version of CAMBAM -> here
or read this here for a good ideas for converting Sketchup into Blender, but now you can export .dae files directly from Sketchup
3. Take a look -> here first as there is a proof of concept around this topic and the 'wafer' sketchup to gcode plugin
4. Additional methods are as follows:
a)Download the following Sketchup Ruby scripts
b) Install these ruby plug-ins for conversion of sketchup to DXF/ STL or cambam ->
http://sites.google.com/site/sketchuptogcode/download/wafer.rb?attredirects=0&d=1
http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/download.php?file=skp_to_dxf.rb
http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/cncstuff/page2/cambam_export/CamBamExport-inch.zip
http://www.cerebralmeltdown.com/cncstuff/page2/cambam_export/CamBamExport-mm.zip
into this directory -> C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins
cambam and wafer scripts appear in a new menu called plugins.
The SKP_to_DXF script appears under the tools menu under 'export'.
wafer appears
c) Read tips from Gabriel -> here
d)Then use CAMBAM to create the gcode or other program like ACE
Other useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-code
sites.google.com/site/sketchuptogcode/
www.becausewecan.org/Sketchup_to_CNC_via_OpenSource_Free_CAM_plugin
www.rockcliffmachine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2367
forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=15313
forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=250026
www.public-art-international.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/200/language/en
Conversion from AutoCAD to G-Code:
At college I had access to AutoCAD. I found these ACAD to CNC conversion tools helpful:
http://www.lehrer.uni-karlsruhe.de/~za685/cnc/cnctools.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~cncwoodworker/acad/downloads/AC2GCv039.zip
Google Sketchup and Simulation, Animation and of Linkages, Gears, etc
Google Sketch has a few plug-ins that enable you to simulate linkages.
Download the free sketchyphysics plug-in
For load .dxf into google you'll need to install version 7.1 and the plug-in that came for v 7.1. It doesn't work in version 8.0.
Read all documentation and watch the youtube videos before you start otherwise you'll get really frustrated. Once you've understood is then start using it. It really does work.