Handling large files

Hello,

I'm looking at the possibility of machining some complex 3D surface, that would require rather large NGC files. Is there a set limit in the size of the files that LinuxCNC can process ? Any practical advice on how to handle large files and long (i.e several hours) machining operations ?

Thank you for your help

You may have to turn off the backplot especially if you have a slow or memory limited host CPU.

> You may have to turn off the backplot

OK. Can you give me a pointer on how I should do this ?
Thank you

Not sure in general how its done but in Axis: (from the Axis GUI manual)


11.8. Preview Control

Special comments can be inserted into the G Code file to control how the preview of AXIS behaves. In the case where you want to limit the drawing of the preview use these special comments. Anything between the (AXIS,hide) and (AXIS,show) will not be drawn during the preview. The (AXIS,hide) and (AXIS,show) must be used in pairs with the (AXIS,hide) being first. Anything after a (AXIS,stop) will not be drawn during the preview.

These comments are useful to unclutter the preview display (for instance while debugging a larger g-code file, one can disable the preview on certain parts that are already working OK).

(AXIS,hide) Stops the preview (must be first)

(AXIS,show) Resumes the preview (must follow a hide)

(AXIS,stop) Stops the preview from here to the end of the file.

(AXIS,notify,the_text) Displays the_text as an info display This display can be useful in the Axis preview when (debug,message) comments are not displayed.

I see, this is great.

I'll try that and report results here, sometime in July.

Again, thanks a lot for your help !

@Lezard,

How big is a huge file? Can be anything....
I don't like info that is not completed with size (how many lines) and line examples (arc, circle etc).

Why shut off the gremlin screen if we don't know the data?