Any of you guys know of a good FREE program to view at least 2D G Code tool paths?

I've got a couple hundred .cnc files on our Burny Server at work for the Plasma Table, but I know a lot of them were single time use or test programs. All of the ones we use regularly are printed out on paper laminated and in a binder. I need to clean a lot of files out, but I need to see what they are before trashing them.

Our Post Processor will determine and create the best tool path and create the code, but I can't do the opposite (enter the code and create a visual representation of the tool path).

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!


- Lee

Try NCPlot. Version 1 is free and does basic 2d backplotting. Look under free tools on the left hand side.

www.ncplot.com

Try NCPlot. Version 1 is free and does basic 2d backplotting. Look under free tools on the left hand side.

www.ncplot.com

Thanks for the link but I can't get NCPlot to show me anything but gibberish.

For example below is code for 8 11.5"x11.5" squares with ~1" radius-ed corners nested 0.5" apart 4 by 4:

%
P803
G46 T0
G91
G70
M03
G00 X41.9024 Y12.14
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
G00 X-11.9453
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
G00 X-11.9453
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
G00 X-11.9453
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
G00 X35.5207 Y12.1559
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
G00 X-11.9453
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
G00 X-11.9453
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
G00 X-11.9453
M04
G01 Y-0.25
G03 X0.0394 Y-0.0394 I0.0394 J0.
G01 X4.75
G02 X1.0425 Y-1.0425 I0. J-1.0425
G01 Y-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y-1.0425 I-1.0425 J0.
G01 X-9.5
G02 X-1.0425 Y1.0425 I0. J1.0425
G01 Y9.5
G02 X1.0425 Y1.0425 I1.0425 J0.
G01 X4.75
G03 X0.0394 Y0.0394 I0. J0.0394
G01 Y0.25
M03
M30

But the attached picture is what NCPlot shows. I tried it with out the % and with out the program name, etc. but always got the same image.

Any other ideas?

- Lee

Its not picking up the G91 code (incremental).

It is running as if everything was absolute or G90 to give you that pattern.

Try putting the G91 code just before the first G00 line.

I also don't understand the first M03 command before the first G00. It looks like M04 would be an ignite or startup command so I would assume the M03 would be an extinguish command. If that is true, not sure why you would need the first one because the machine should not be cutting at that point in time.

I'm getting the same result. The free version doesn't seem to be able to handle incremental programming. I didn't realize that. I'm using version 2.07 and it plots fine.8 squares with radii starting bottom right. Maybe download the latest version and take advantage of the 15 day trial period until you can find a free program that works. Might also try http://www.cnczone.com/ or http://www.practicalmachinist.com/ . Someone there might know of a free program that will work for you.
Dave

i've been using nc plot also and it works fine for all the 2.5d g code i've used. i rarely use incremental moves so i had never noticed that it doesn't recognize them.

Its not picking up the G91 code (incremental).

It is running as if everything was absolute or G90 to give you that pattern.

Try putting the G91 code just before the first G00 line.

I also don't understand the first M03 command before the first G00. It looks like M04 would be an ignite or startup command so I would assume the M03 would be an extinguish command. If that is true, not sure why you would need the first one because the machine should not be cutting at that point in time.

Ignite?? :laughing::laughing:

In my machines (machining centers) M3 turns the spindle on.

M codes are usually specific to the machine or control type. Most companies do "try" to keep them somewhat relative to other machines but they can vary somewhat especially on older machines.

Based on his rapid moves I'm guessing that M3 is extinguish and M4 is ignite...or maybe someone crossed 2 wires in the control and OFF is ON.

predator software (http://www.mis-group.com/outpost/outpost.php) has a free version. (CD I think)

You are looking for a "REVERSE post processor". It's been a real long time sine I had to find and use one but they are out there. I'm pretty sure you can still get mastercam V8 for free (educational) and I know it has a reverse post processor in it.

Let me know how it goes over the next few days for ya...I can do some digging around and probably find something either in my old archives of stuff or at work if you don't have any luck.

You guys need to learn how to write sub-routines and sub-programs...I can make that program you have posted work with about 1/4 of the number of lines. :flipoff2:

I've messed with NCPlot some more this morning, and still can't get the free version to show what it should. I'll do some more Googling and see if I can find something downloadable. Thanks for the help so far fellas.

I'm working with ~1994 technology here, and I know just enough to make the thing work reliably. I'm sure there's a simpler way, but the Post Processor we use works and was special designed for our ancient Burny 2.8 controller :laughing:. I'd love to go to a Windows based controller but I don't think I can convince the boss man as long as what we've got is working well enough:shaking:. Maybe someone should strategically spill their coffee:idea:.

Anyway attached are what our manual says about the Gs and Ms.


- Lee

Ignite?? :laughing::laughing:


Thats the term we used for a torch. Maybe the term has changed in the past 10 years.

.

I wrote a reverse processor program for a mazak laser to show the tool path. Let me see if I can find that program it should be pretty close to what you need.

.

I logged into CNCZone for the first time since Sept '08:laughing: I've found several programs but only one that works so far. Another hurdle I've ran into is 64-bit Vista:shaking:.

Anyway somebody there linked a program called Discriminator (http://www.cncedit.com/SetupFiles.zip) and while it's not exactly what I had in mind it's the first one that shows me what I'm looking for.

I'm going to keep looking for something better, and am still open to other suggestions, but at least I've got something I can work with now.

Thanks again :beer:

- Lee

Yeah
I dont like over-writing M-codes, the national standard exists for a reason. On our equipment we are asked to write custom M-codes using 500 and up. However, a lot of early laser controls and some current ones over-wrote the standards so customers like to keep the same M-codes to ease the transition to our controllers(Aerotech A3200). Awesome program by the way.

I use CNCSimulator, which is 100% free and works surprisingly well! http://www.cncsimulator.com.

Here's a screenshot:
http://www.cncsimulator.com/Files/info.htm/simmen.jpg

Andy