Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

Hey all, just coming across this thread and I wanted share this project that you might find interesting:



This is essentially something that's very Intercon like that allows you to build G code using snappable blocks.

I built this as a testing tool for myself. There are lot of the operations that folks like you use on the regular... slots, pockets, drilling arrays, helix entries, etc.

If there's interest I may add more to to...

https://blockmill.github.io/BlockMill/

Toaster, that is exceedingly cool.

There are lots of picky implementation details to debate; but the concept is very solid and frankly inspiring.

One reason that Intercon user interface has a "clunky" look to it, is that many years ago software developers were forbidden to make the screen font any smaller, in consideration of aging users. That severely limits the amount of information that can fit on the screen.

Your ability to smoothly zoom in and out solves that problem. What controls are you using (e.g. ca. 4:43 in your video) to zoom? Would that be achievable on a single-point touch screen, without a mouse? Or is a connected mouse basically a requirement?

Have you thought about an equivalent for Intercon's Drill/Bore/Tap "Repeat" operations, which perform an additional operation (generally with a different tool) on the set of XY points defined in one or more preceding Drill, Bore or Tap operations (including single, Array, and BHC)?

My Intercon features list.
- basic single line engraving 
- DXF import convert entities to lines and arcs, (use best fit for DXF files that use curves/spines to define complex curves)
- Shapes
- Helix Plunge
- drill List from .txt
- define rectangular pockets and frames by xy corner position
- face allow choice of which axis to move first
- spoil board cleanup

There are lots of picky implementation details to debate; but the concept is very solid and frankly inspiring.

Thank you!!

Your ability to smoothly zoom in and out solves that problem. What controls are you using (e.g. ca. 4:43 in your video) to zoom? Would that be achievable on a single-point touch screen, without a mouse? Or is a connected mouse basically a requirement?

Yes, you do need a mouse. Scrolling is done with the mouse wheel. This code should be fully "accessibility" compliant since it's a modern web app so there are likely other ways to zoom with other hardware if needed. On screen keyboard works fine.

Worth mentioning: This does work on touch devices like iPad, Surface, Laptop, etc. although it's best if they are multitouch.

Have you thought about an equivalent for Intercon's Drill/Bore/Tap "Repeat" operations, which perform an additional operation (generally with a different tool) on the set of XY points defined in one or more preceding Drill, Bore or Tap operations (including single, Array, and BHC)?

With the exception of tapping, you should be able to do that now.

"Circular pocket" combined with "helix entry" should do the trick for a bore. There's a basic drilling block in there too. Assuming you had a tap operation in there you could just array that easily. You'd take those three blocks (helix, drill, tap) put then in a "group" block and then stuff that block in an "array block" toss in whatever tool changes you want (and z moves if needed) and at every "stop" in the array it would do all of those operations.

- basic single line engraving

Debugging it now Keith

- Helix Plunge

Already in there!

- define rectangular pockets and frames by xy corner position

already in there for rectangular pocket. Frames are next (after I finish text, it's a bear)

- face allow choice of which axis to move first

I believe it's already in there if I understand what you want.. you can pick the facing "direction" (X or Y)

- spoil board cleanup

That's just a big facing toolpath or a rectangular pocket. Facing will allow the 180 degree "turn arounds" at the end of each pass to go outside the XY size you give it. The intent for facing is that you don't have anything else in the way..

The rectangular toolpath keeps the entire toolpath contained within the size you define, and it does have a "raster" selection which is effectively a facing toolpath but strictly contained in a box.

Wow! This is really incredible.
Is there a way to save blocks as reusable pieces? Can an assembly of given blocks be used to define a reusable super block so you can avoid all the regular starting stuff?

Wow! This is really incredible.
Is there a way to save blocks as reusable pieces? Can an assembly of given blocks be used to define a reusable super block so you can avoid all the regular starting stuff?

I've been giving this some thought, and holding off on releasing it as a feature...

There definitely can be combinations of blocks that could be made to drop right into the workspace. These could be any combination of the blocks that are available. That would be something that would be available to anyone. I have resisted doing that because I want to flesh out the blocks I am working on.

There is a way that folks could download workspaces they have made. I haven't added that yet because I am tweaking/adding stuff on the regular, and if folks downloaded blocks now they might not be compatible in the future if I do a major update.

So let me ask you this:

If you made a custom set of blocks that you'd want to re-use over and over again, would you want to store them on your computer and upload them as needed, or would you rather have them stored in a cloud service where you could sign in/recall them whenever you want?

In the latter situation you could create/edit your blocks and jobs from anywhere and then when you're in the shop you could download them and run them...

I'd prefer to have it cloud based, but it doesn't really matter. I've got several computers I work from. There is the CNC12 computer that is almost solely dedicated to CNC12. The CNCM and NCFiles folders are accessible on the network. I have a modeling computer that runs Fusion/Vectric and Lightburn, handles my Bambu X1C software, and does 3D scanning. Typically sending GCode to the CNC12 machine for processing. I have a laptop in my home that connects as well, and I do touchups on this laptop. Everything goes to my NAS where most stuff is stored.
If it's on the cloud, that's easy. If it's 'local' I'd probably save the files to the NAS where I can get them from anywhere.

Nice! Let me ask you another question...

What would you use this for? You've clearly got access to a lot of CAM software that can do a wide range of stuff.. Why would you use Blockmill over Fusion/Vectric?

Obviously I have an answer for me because I built the thing... but I don't want to "lead the witness"

There are a lot of times when I need to do something very simple. I may want to rip down a couple of boards for work holding reference surfaces. It's a pain to go through all the design/toolpath stuff just to cut on a line. Intercon can do that, but I use it infrequently so it always feels like I'm doing something the first time and the interface is, old. There are other little things like small cuts, drilling a single hole, etc. which are similarly simple.
Facing a surface board immediately comes to mind, as does running a bit back and forth to measure backlash or accuracy. This would be a simpler way to just get the GCode written. So it's sort of a CNC jackknife working in the world where intercon and MDI aren't ideal.

I am using Intercon and Fusion360

After testing BlockMill Demo, I must say it is too much typing and mouse for me. I am way faster with Intercon to make simple parts:
- Less typing
- loads data from the tool lib
- Instant toolpath backplot with one click
- teaching in current position

I like the helix plunge in BlockMill but I hope Intercon is updated in future

One other thing is that I also use a lathe, Intercon is on both, so I have only to get used to Intercon and Fusion for both machines.
Maybe Intercon UI is old, but it is very fast to use.

Uwe