Engraving Arbitrary Names
We have manufactured multiple coasters in MDF on our Mens Shed Router.
Each coaster is 86 mm square with our logo and a surround line engraved.
The plan is to have the router operating during open days and offer to engrave a visitors name on a coaster and to give it to them as a souvenir.
But, we will not have prior knowledge of the name.
So, the following methodology is proposed.
While the router is engraving a name, a second laptop will be manned at the visitor reception desk.
Input Assumptions:
- existing hardware and software to be retained; Arduino Uno, Grbl 0.9j, UGS,
- Grbl does not have options for sub-routines,
- coasters consistent size with prior engraved shed logo and surround,
- metal jig providing rigid consistent mounting of coaster.
Prior to Router Operation:
1. basic Gcode sub-program written to set up cutter at clearance height above text bottom line at centre of name (text string),
2. separate Gcode sub-programs written for all 26 letters of alphabet with each width pre-determined and noted,
3. separate sub-programs written to position cutter at text start for names of width 1 to maximum achievable,
4. basic Gcode sub-program written to move cutter to convenient safe position to allow easy coaster exchange.
During Router Operation at Second Laptop:
Visitor provides desired name to be engraved on coaster, total text width is calculated using noted letter widths,
Gcode assembled by concatenating pre-written programs:
a. basic set-up - (1) above,
b. position cutter at start of text - (3) above,
c. first letter in text - (2) above, followed by each letter in turn,
d. basic safe position - (4) above.
Gcode program transferred from second laptop to machine laptop via flash drive and stored in folder of names.
UGS loads selected program from folder of names and sends it to Grbl.
Folder of names will grow so that eventually off-line Gcode concatenation will become a minor activity.
Comments welcomed,
John.
