If what it calls a 'pgm' file is plain text that contains Gcode, then yes you can. You need the SketchUcam plugin loaded into Sketchup Make 2017 (the last free version) or a later licensed Make. The online Sketchup cannot load plugins so you cannot use that. Watch the videos on how to use SketchUcam There is also a manual
I have Sketchucam on Sketchup 2021. I have generated the file .cnc, but the machine wants a .pgm file. What do you mean with "plain text"?
If you open a (.cnc) file in a text editor and it doesn't contain any weird characters you just need to re name it with the (.pgm) extension. Alex.
SketchUcam generates Gcode, which is just text (no fancy codes like you would see if you looked inside a Word .docx file). Gcode files are just text files, same as .txt and editable with notepad. 'pgm' is just an extension, it does not change what is in the file, you can tell SketchUcam to use that extension (SketchUcam: HOWTO set default options), or you can just change it in File Explorer.
Hello Peter, Hello Peter, I tried to download Sketchup 2017 make but see the following message. SketchUp Make 2017 Access SketchUp only offers downloads of the last two major versions of SketchUp Pro. To be consistent with our policy, we will no longer offer the ability to download SketchUp Make. If you are still using SketchUp Make, it is important to understand that this version has not been updated since 2017, making it more vulnerable to security issues related to outdated open source libraries. Open source vulnerabilities can lead to problems such as disclosure of sensitive information. In addition, this version was built for Windows 7 & 8 which are no longer supported by Microsoft, and Mac OS X 10.10, 10.11, and 10.12 which are no longer receiving security updates from Apple. Make sure to upgrade to a more secure version of SketchUp to protect your information. To learn more about our subscriptions, check out our help center article."
Hello, I tried it via the link on Openbuilds from Peter van der Walt, but that link no longer works, hence my message. You can still find it if you google it. Thank you for your response. And maybe then the link can be edited so that others can find it too. Sincerely Bert Klappe
Get Sketchup Make from my Dropbox... Dropbox - sketchupmake-2017-2-2555-90782-en-x64.rar - Simplify your life
Help please! I recently moved my computer from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and I can no longer convert drawings into G Code with SketchUCam. The drop down "Save as type" doesn't have the .dxf file type that I run on the CNC machine. The list is blank. What am I missing? Please help.
SketchUcam does not output DXF files, it outputs Gcode. SketchUcam has never used the 'save as type' mechanism, you click the big green arrow in the toolbar to generate Gcode. SketchUcam Toolbar Having reloaded windows you have reinstalled Sketchup, probably a (newer) different version that does not have the ability to export DXF (they want a license fee for that). The last free version is Sketchup Make 2017, all later versions have a demo mode that will expire unless you pay. https://openbuilds.com/projectresources/sketchup-make-2017-last-free-version.364/ Maybe you had a license or a plugin for exporting DXF?
Thanks for the reply. It is a fully licensed version of Google SketchUp. On my previous set up when I clicked the green button in Sketchucam to generate the G-Code I had the ability to select .dxf file type from the drop down list. Is there a way to generate the G-Code in .dxf in Sketchucam? I tried to change the file type manually from gcode_out.cnc to gcode_out.dxf but it doesn't work. Thanks again
Can't answer your question about Sketchup/Sketchucam, but dxf files are the vectors in the design (ie a way of saving the drawing), g-code files are step by step instructions to tell your machine what moves to make - totally different, changing the file extension won't change what sort of file it is. Alex.
you can change the default extension that Sketchucam uses: no surprise, it is in the user manual (-: SketchUcam: HOWTO set default options which is online as above, but it also on your computer, just click the big blue question mark in the toolbar. Read all of it, knowledge is power!
Hi everyone ! First of all, thank you for all the work that have been done about this plugin that looks amazing ! I am the owner of a workbee Z1+ working with its original hardware and software. I am used to make it work generating gcodes with freecad, but since I am really faster to design in sketchup, I really think Sketchucam would be a perfect option to me. I am able to generate gcodes with Sketchucam, I can can preview it correctly using plotgcode and it looks the way i want it to be. My issue is when I import it to my machine, previews offfered by the workbee controls soft doesnt show anything and if I launch the gcode the mill just get down to the Z axis until I press the emergency stop before it touches the table. The Gcode generated should not do it. If think it may be gcode format problem because after having a quick comparison between gcodes generated by freecad, the code hasn't the same structure. Since I dont know that much about different existing gcodes formats I am asking for some support here ! Here are Two gcodes files, generated by both freecad and sketchucam, the once generated by freecad works well, the other not (((
Line 17: G53 G00 Z0.0 - moves in Machine Coordinates (not work Coordinates) so make sure your Machine Coordinates are properly defined. Grbl uses all-negative-quadrant Frequently Asked Questions · gnea/grbl Wiki - not sure if the Duet handles Machine Coordinates correctly, but thats what needs fixing. On Grbl its default is correct, you just need to remember to Home
As @Peter Van Der Walt suspects, the Duet works in the positive quadrant of 3d space - grbl works in the negative quadrant. The back, right, up corner is ALWAYS the maximum dimension for each axis. In grbl that corner is set to X0, Y0 and Z0 - as you move away from that corner the co-ordinates become smaller and therefore more negative. The Duet by default sets that corner as the maximum value for each axis - as you move away the co-ordinates become smaller, but remain positive - the front, left, down corner will be X0, Y0 and Z0. All of the above refers to the MACHINE co-ordinate system - the WORKPLACE coordinates system works the same in both systems. The solution to your problem is to edit the g-code looking for G53 commands which tell the machine to use the MACHINE co-ordinate system for safety moves. For example, change G53 G0 Z0 to something like G53 G0 Z90 (can't remember offhand what the maximum for Z is on the Workbee Z1+) - you can put any number in there up to the Z maximum setting in your config files. Hope that helps, on my phone so can't easily look at your g-code to identify which lines are causing the issue. Alex.
PS, if you want to change your Duet config files to work in the negative quadrant as grbl (and many other controllers) does you would need to find the config settings that set the axes maxima and minima - set the maxima to 0,0,0 and the minima to negative values of the numbers that were defined as the maxima. Ie if X maximum is 770, set the X maximum to 0, and the X minimum to -770. Alex.
Highly recommended to fix the machine config as other CAMs also expects the machine to follow "CNC" standards (positive quadrant is for additive manufacturing)
have to agree, and yet it was simple to allow SketchUcam to output positive Z moves, so, longterm you must plan to do the above, meanwhile download Release SketchUcam V1.5c · swarfer/sketchucam and have a Happy Christmas
I can make sketchucam work well know, and even if its a kind of "brutal" way, it is much faster to me than using freecad, thank you for your help. Here is what i did thanks to your advices : You were right about the G53 line and the Z-axis problem. I deleted this line and the other G53 at the end of the G-code and the machine didn't hit the table anymore. I also had to delete the line 16 : F1500 because it returned an error in the log of the duet simulation mode. I tried to set the machine coordinates to negative values, but duet doesn't accept this values. (Values are less than minimum accepted values. Has I said it works quite OK, however: I have to delete lines after each gcode is generated, it can cause problem if I forget to do it. Is there a way to automate this ? I am still looking for a way to setup duet to work with negative coordinates. Duet can make a previsualisation of the gcode but it doesnt work with the gcodes generated by sketchucam. I tried to manipulate the files to make it work taking examples on a working freecad gcode but nothing worked. Thanks again !
Your problem is that the Rep-Rap firmware on the Duet wants a G command on every line - if it comes across a F1500 on its own it will throw a wobbly. I explained above how to change the Duet configuration files to put the machine co-ordinate system into the negative quadrant. On my phone again, so you'll have to find the relevant configuration file (Ooznest decided to have lots of separate configuration files rather than one complicated one for the Z1+) - it will probably have a name that tells you what it does. If you do change that then you will also need to change all the homing files. Alex.
SketchUcam has a mode for that, tools|phlatboyz|options|feature options|force all gcodes on for marlin
Hi there.! I have an issue to which I didn't found anything about, either in help files, either in the forum. Whatever I do, after installing this extension, it switches back "Edge color by material" to on, even if I don't move the model, after some time it still does that. After I disable it everything is fine, but is too much because it has many entries in the extension manager, and switching on and off all of them is frustrating. Maybe there is a catch somewhere to which you can guide me. Thank you.!
it has to do that so you can see what the plugin is doing since it uses colors to distinguish the types of cut, this is how it works.
