G-code and Suchlike

A place for CNC & machine shop files of general interest… and so I can find them again.

Update: This page became inactive after Wordpress introduced the source code tag, so I could include the code with the post text: search for Arduino source code, OpenSCAD source code, G-Code source, Python source code, and so forth to find them. When the WP editors began destroying the source code formatting, I moved the code snippets to my GitHub gists; the same search strings find the posts.

The Y-axis leadscrew cover template for Sherline milling machines, originally from http://file.ixen-cnc.com/mod/leadscrew/files/Bellow.pdf. There’s also an A4 version. Attach with double-sided sticky tape!

I cooked up an improved version of the bellows, with color-coded folds and taping hints. Separate versions for the front and back bellows, with one fewer pleat so they fit on both Letter and A4 paper sizes.

A HAL file that uses a Logitech Dual Action Gamepad as a pendant, with axis lockout on the joystick knobs: Logitech Dual Action Gamepad – joystick axis lockout – custom_postgui.hal. More details there and there, including the other files you must tweak to use this one. It’s an OpenOffice document, so you must re-save it as a text document and then chop it up with your favorite text editor.

Milling a post in a sheet of acrylic plastic: Postmill.ngc.odt. I used this to make colon dots for a digital clock. Save the file as text and feed it into EMC2.

The inverse problem of milling a circular recess: Circular Recess Milling.ngc.

An Eagle ULP file (EMC-Sherline-drillingulp.odt) that extracts the holes from a PCB layout, sorts them by drill size, then visits each one in nearest-neighbor order. It’s way faster than the usual random walk and much faster than raster-scanning the board. Touches each hole with a center drill, which probably isn’t necessary. This is embedded inside an OpenOffice file; just do a Save As to ASCII text (EMC-Sherline-drilling.ulp) in whatever folder Eagle uses for ulp routines on your system and it’ll work fine.

An Eagle CAM file (twosided-pscam.odt) that creates Postscript files for the top & bottom & silkscreen layers of circuit boards. It’s embedded inside an OpenOffice file; Save As to ASCII text (twosided-PS.cam) in whatever folder Eagle uses for cam routines on your system and it’ll work fine.