How do I edit g-code?

[Urban Wheeler]

I drew up some tabs in autocad and imported them as a dxf into the TM software, but it wants to cut the tab out first and the hole last. Is there a way to tell it to cut the hole first? Or for instance move lines 20-25 to the top of the command list?

[Torchmate]

If you have Torchmate CAD then grab the whole tab and then do a male toolpath. It will automatically cut the inside parts before the outside parts (in this case the hole before the tab). If you don't have TM CAD and are instead importing straight from AutoCad, then just grab the hole and hit cut and paste, then grab the tab and hit cut and paste. Then bring it into the driver software. It will cut the shapes in the order they are drawn, so it will see the circle as having been drawn first and the tab drawn last. In some versions of AutoCad it works opposite, so if you have troubles try it in reverse. It is easier than editing the g-code.

[abrogate]

Just at thought but did you make the tab with the hole a single object by making it a path?

[Urban Wheeler]

The scoop is that it's not my TM, it's a friends, and we are working together learning it and figuring it out, so it's not always accessible to me. He has TMCad and I have AutoCad, so I thought I'd try to export in .dxf and import the same. so, what you are telling me is that I need to import it into TMCad first and have it make the tool path for the driver?

I've already figured that where I save the project in relation to 0,0 affects where it shows up in the driver program in relation to 0,0, unless I set the lower left of the part to 0,0 in TM. I'll try to change the order of drawn objects and see if that makes a difference.

[Urban Wheeler]

I redrew the tab, starting with the hole, and when I imported it into TM it cut the hole first. Thanks for the tip.

[HardcorewannabeXJ]

We always recommend bringing it through Torchmate CAD for a process called "ToolPathing". This does 3 big things for you. It gives you Kerf Compensation ensuring the parts come out the right size. It will cut the inside parts before the outside part. It will create lead-ins for the parts so you are not piercing on the side of the cut, but rather in the scrap material around it. You can also assign it to cut in a climbing direction, which is clockwise exterior counter-clockwise interior cuts. The plasma cutter actually gets better bevel/dross on the right hand side of the cut moving away from you.

As you have found out you don't need to bring it through TM Cad to work, but all of the above can be accomplished in less thatn 30 seconds in the Torchmate CAD, on up to an entire sheet of parts. Doing it in AutoCAD just seems like a lot of extra work.

[Tuffjarhed]

How do I copy a part and repeat it in TM Cad?

[Torchmate]

Originally Posted by Tuffjarhed

How do I copy a part and repeat it in TM Cad?

Go to the Layout menu, then Array.

[HardcorewannabeXJ]

Originally Posted by Tuffjarhed

How do I copy a part and repeat it in TM Cad?

Originally Posted by Torchmate

Go to the Layout menu, then Array.

Also a quick command to copy an object is Edit - Duplicate. This will create a duplicate of whatever you have selected 1 inch off to the side. The Keyboard Shortcut for this is Ctrl - D.

[StinkBug]

Originally Posted by Tuffjarhed

How do I copy a part and repeat it in TM Cad?

I usually do it the same way you copy/paste anything else in a windows program. Select, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V, then select the insertion point.

[BESRK]

For arranging cut order, I also go to "Layout" and "Sequence" to arrange cuts in a particular order. This helps me with some of my drawings when I want to "pierce" inside another line to avoid a big crater.. mainly use it for "art" type drawings but it can be used to sequence bolt holes so they cut in a logical order. It can save alot of "cut time" when cutting alot of brackets with multiple bolt holes..etc. Also, since I mix alot of "cut paths" with regular lines while drawing, the "make path>male toolpath" doesn't always cut the interior stuff first so I just double check with the "sequence".

[Urban Wheeler]

Originally Posted by HardcorewannabeXJ

We always recommend bringing it through Torchmate CAD for a process called "ToolPathing". This does 3 big things for you. It gives you Kerf Compensation ensuring the parts come out the right size. It will cut the inside parts before the outside part. It will create lead-ins for the parts so you are not piercing on the side of the cut, but rather in the scrap material around it. You can also assign it to cut in a climbing direction, which is clockwise exterior counter-clockwise interior cuts. The plasma cutter actually gets better bevel/dross on the right hand side of the cut moving away from you.

As you have found out you don't need to bring it through TM Cad to work, but all of the above can be accomplished in less thatn 30 seconds in the Torchmate CAD, on up to an entire sheet of parts. Doing it in AutoCAD just seems like a lot of extra work.

If you mean creating lead ins/outs and comp for kerf on cad vs tmcad, then yea it could be a lot of extra work. Right now Tuffjarhed and I are still in the learning stage. I'ts his table and like I said I don't get much time to play with it.