Basic Flow of Programs

[FosterB]

We just had to fire about designer/plasma cutter technician.

He was the only person who knew how to run the machine.

Can someone give a very basic breakdown of how these programs fit together?

Adobe Illustrator - initial designs - we do this all the time

EnRoute 2.0 .rou files
WinCam .dxf files - we're pretty sure this is what runs the machine

There are files with extensions .dwf, .tap, and .pnc - not sure where these fit in?

The ShopSabre technician can't be here until the first week of January to do some training, but we're trying to get a handle on all the files before then.

Thank you in advance for any help!

[CNCCAJUN]

We just had to fire about designer/plasma cutter technician.

He was the only person who knew how to run the machine.

Can someone give a very basic breakdown of how these programs fit together?

Adobe Illustrator - initial designs - we do this all the time.
Sounds like you are OK here. . .

EnRoute 2.0 .rou files
WinCam .dxf files - we're pretty sure this is what runs the machine

DXF files are your drawing files, ie. . . Corel Draw, AutoCAD, etc. . can generate these.

There are files with extensions .dwf, .tap, and .pnc - not sure where these fit in?

Post your location, there may someone near you that can help.

DWF = AutoCAD DWF viewer file = free dwg viewer

TAP file = G-Code file - file generated by your G-Code creator - this is what your machine needs to tell it what to do.


PNC file = Panasonic PNC file stored on a Panasonic SD card


The ShopSabre technician can't be here until the first week of January to do some training, but we're trying to get a handle on all the files before then.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Not familar with WINCNC, so your system might very well just need the dxf file & generates it own TAP file, sometimes called a CNC file.

Do a search for ShopSabre on here and PM a few people that own one and I'll bet someone will be all to happy to help you . . .

If you are not already a member, join plasmaspider. If you own a plasma table there is nothing on earth you can buy that would be of greater use to you for $20.00 . . .

By the way, . . . I gotta ask, what could an employee who possessed the knowledge to shut down your shop for 2 months possibly do to make it beneficial to fire him?

[tnbndr]

That's why you never put all your eggs in one basket.
I had to argue with the company I worked for to hire someone qualified for me to train, just in case something happened to me. Took them a couple of years but it finally happened.

[tcaudle]

WINCNC is a motion control program that is , like most PC based CNC controllers the basis to move the motors and display the information on the screen. It s setup requires a bus card be installed and their software beiong loaded. All of the settings are handed in a file called WINCNC.INI . Unless you suspect sabotage stay out of that file.

WINCAM probably takes the DXF drawing and using a "POST" (a translation program) and converts it to G-COde (toolpath) which is a universal CNC language. Go find some of the files that were run before and use a txt editor (Notepad) to open it. If it has lune numbers and commands that have G00 or G01, G02 or G03 then it is G Code .

The normal flow of events is

CAD (Drawing) -->DXF file--> CAM --> Control

Its really not that big a secret and while each company can have a different twist on the process and combine two or more of the processes it normally follows the same work flow

You are not nearly as big a hostage as your ex-employee would have you believe. Shop Saber sues WINCNC to turn a standard PC into a CNC controller/ There are other methods

[FosterB]

Thank you everyone for the help fitting the pieces together.

Why? Only showed up 2-3 days a week. Refused to clean up the cutter area - "not part of his job". He's an "artist" - not manual labor. Would charge us double the design hours he actually worked... it was just a bad situation. The majority of our work is landscape and rooftop so we're in our slow season right now - gearing up for the spring. We'll shop the jobs out to the laser cutter down the street until we're up and running again.

The website will be completely new in early December, but here is the current version: www.aestheticmetals.com

Barb

[CNCCAJUN]

I would hire one of the hundreds of newly graduated graphic designers that can not find a job in their flooded market.

Just find one that would like to work in a "real shop" environment.

His software background & todays youths familiarity with computers would have no problem doing what you need.

Just don?t hire one that thinks he?s an artist.

Steve

[Gamelord]

I agree, look for a graphic designer that is familiar with either Corel Draw or Adobe, should be very easy to do. Once you get someone that knows how to create and edit vector graphics, it would be fairly simple to walk them through the other steps of sending them to the cutting software and cutting them out. Graphic design is the hard part to get figured out and usually takes the longest time to learn. A fresh graduate would already have those skills.

If you walk through the steps with them, then you will also learn the process while he does the work.

[plain ol Bill]

I checked out your website and that is very nicely done. Love the work on it and hope everything works out well for you.

[tnbndr]

but here is the current version

Nice looking website.

[levesquea]

Thank you everyone for the help fitting the pieces together.

Why? Only showed up 2-3 days a week. Refused to clean up the cutter area - "not part of his job". He's an "artist" - not manual labor. Would charge us double the design hours he actually worked... it was just a bad situation. The majority of our work is landscape and rooftop so we're in our slow season right now - gearing up for the spring. We'll shop the jobs out to the laser cutter down the street until we're up and running again.

The website will be completely new in early December, but here is the current version: http://www.aestheticmetals.com

Barb

I took a look at your website...you do great work. Very nice.
You did good to fire that employee. You deserve better...lol
I'm sure you'll find a more reliable person that will be enjoyable to work with...-:)
Good luck

Andre