Postprocessor for Estlcam

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h.hartmann.78
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2022 7:09 pm
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Postprocessor for Estlcam

Post by h.hartmann.78 »

Estlcam ist a beginner friendly and (very) low level CAM and CNC Controller (Screenshot) and it's widely used in German-speaking countries. Although Estlcam can handles the grbl-pp and linuxcnc-pp output but ignores some of the G-Codes they generate, I decided to write an Estlcam Postprocessor:
estlcam_post.py
(22.78 KiB) Downloaded 159 times
(based on the grbl_post.py)

The owner of Estlcam publishes the Requirements for CNC Programs.

Modifications and enhancements I made:
  • removed bCNC code and output
  • removed Spindle Wait code, it's inside the estlcam configuration:
    estlcam-spindle-acceleration-delay.png
    estlcam-spindle-acceleration-delay.png (135.16 KiB) Viewed 1381 times
  • removed modal code: "Repeating g-codes must not be omitted"
  • changed Pre and Postamble: there's no G17, G20/G21, G90/G91, M2 codes in estlcam.
  • cleaned up arguments & definition
  • added --tool-change-use-altcmd, you can use M0 instead of M6:
    estlcam-program-settings-texts-toolchange.png
    estlcam-program-settings-texts-toolchange.png (112.65 KiB) Viewed 1381 times
    and https://youtu.be/mkBrIdcsgMc
  • removed verify of motion-mode in preamble: estlcam supports only G90
  • changed coolant modes: Flood (M8/M9), Mist (M10/M11)
I've tested the postprocessor in FreeCAD 0.20.1 under Windows 10.

Comments and discussions about this postprocessor are welcome. But keep in mind: i'm not the owner of Estlcam.

Kindly regards, Harald Hartmann
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h.hartmann.78
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2022 7:09 pm
Location: Germany
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Re: Postprocessor for Estlcam

Post by h.hartmann.78 »

What is the correct way, to poviding this postprocessor to FreeCAD? On https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Path_Postpr ... tomization there's this:
If it functions well, please consider providing it for others to benefit (post it to the FreeCAD Path forum) so that it can be included in the FreeCAD distribution going forward.
Or should i better clone the FreeCAD GitHub repo, add estlcam_post.py to it, and do a pull request?
chrisb
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Re: Postprocessor for Estlcam

Post by chrisb »

h.hartmann.78 wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 12:10 pm Or should i better clone the FreeCAD GitHub repo, add estlcam_post.py to it, and do a pull request?
That will be the way. Before doing so, you can wait for some feedback.
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