Convert X axis to A axis?

Yeah you need to have a fixed starting point, be 1cm or 10 cm but you need that so you can calculate the drawing ( multiply or divide as needed), and you end up with stretched drawings, but when the machine is done, everything will look OK. You need a reference point ( i set mine at 31.413, so if i have a 10cm dia, i change nothing, 5cm dia ==> just multiply everything in X with 0.5 in inkscape during drwaing)

Sorry haven't used it in quite a while, so having trouble finding the info inside my head ( lots and lots of voids there ) :laugh:

LOL! :laugh: That's what I do. There are 2 configs, but the pins for X and A are swapped at the parallel port is all.

I know I am being a little persnickety. I am still pretty new to CNC and I am exploring. The Gcode language is a new one for me.

Sorry, i had a feeling we where not on the same page ! Sorry ma man and thank you for clearing that up for me, as i always assume i did not explain it in a manner that is easily understandable by others.

If you are able to always set things up so that the centre of rotation is Z=0 it is possible to create a config that converts Y (in G-code) to A (on the machine). That means you can engrave XY patterns on any solid of revolution.

But, the point is that it will always be XY G-code unless you get a 4-axis CAM system.

For simple cylindrical work, you could create a system where the working radius is set in a GladeVCP or PyVCP control on the screen, and a simple scaling in HAL converts Y positions to A-angles.

For more complex solids of revolution you probably need to consider doing the "magic" in the kinematics.

andypugh wrote: If you are able to always set things up so that the centre of rotation is Z=0 it is possible to create a config that converts Y (in G-code) to A (on the machine). That means you can engrave XY patterns on any solid of revolution.

But, the point is that it will always be XY G-code unless you get a 4-axis CAM system.

For simple cylindrical work, you could create a system where the working radius is set in a GladeVCP or PyVCP control on the screen, and a simple scaling in HAL converts Y positions to A-angles.

For more complex solids of revolution you probably need to consider doing the "magic" in the kinematics.

Thanks. Ya, it sounds like I will be just changing configs when I need to switch from flat to round.