You’ve nailed it, Rob. Carbide Motion => Carbide Great Leap Forward. 
I’ll also look forward to the consolidated setup screens that have been suggested by several insightful folk here. It almost gets to the point where “oh by the way, run this gcode”… 
I never expected this thread to become a CM feature request thread. But I love it! Keep it going!
Jon, I will apologize for my part in the hijack… (I see that you already know about the earlier stable CM versions still available…)
@Randy. I don’t mind the hijack at all. And yes, I did find the earlier build. I’m going to run that for the time being. I’m glad however that the future looks promising on this front.
If I was adding another feature request. It would be nice to see an option to skip the preview when you open each file. The older CM versions didn’t have that, and on the newer versions, I just see it as an extra unnecessary thing I need to click thru every time.
I also use the older CM due to the gcode export. I prefer the workflow where I export each tool to a separate gcode file and then I can run each one separately in CM. One of my most common workflows is when making wooden plaques. I usually use 2 tools for most of those projects. a 1/8" flat endmill, and a 60 degree V bit. Most of these jobs involve several in a row. To reduce tool changes, I will alternate each plaque in which order I run the bits. If i finish one plaque with the V, then I start the next one with the V. Then it will finish on the endmill and then i’ll start the next ont he endmill. and back and forth. That way I don’t need to switch tools between each plaque. Half the bit changes in a day of cutting.
I believe a long time ago I made mention, in another CM feature request thread, if CM could get the ability to select/deselect which toolpath’s in a C2D file to run.
Being able to save the whole design & toolpath’s in one file is great except when you only need to run a subset of the toolpaths or want to change the order of the toolpath’s without editing the file.
Would love to see this happen.
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I just want the Jog screen to recognize gamepad on startup. With gamepad, I have to go to jog screen, then flip to run screen, agreeing to continue without setting zero, then back to jog screen for the gamepad to be recognized. Small issue, but still obnoxious.
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I used UGS for years with my home brew CNC.
I bought the Shapeoko 4xxl, use Fusion 360 for modeling and Carbide Motion to send geode & bit setter for tool change.
For me the move forward for tool change is great. I use multiple tools on one job and love not
re- zeroing as it is never the same done manually.
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I would also love the option for the cutter to not travel to the front. I don’t change cutters often so don’t use the BitSetter but even if you do, isn’t this in the way of loading your first stock? This travel-to-the-front forces you to remember not to initialize the machine until after you loaded the stock which is a bit clumsy workflow wise.
Hmmm, I’m just a hobbiest but always load my material, initialize and go from there. When the last cut is done the machine (S5Pro)parks in the rear and I remove my stock or project. Maybe I just adapted this method due to it being my first cnc? But so far it works for me?
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That’s the way I do it too. Just makes sense to have the material in place before initializing and zeroing on it.
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I also agree with consolidating the 3 screens. It’s never made sense to me to jog on one screen and have to back out to do a rapid. Also, like mentioned by several, most of my jogs are related to zeroing or material prep followed by zeroing. So, like Rob mentioned, combine those with a pendant and you get a good solution.
BTW: I applaud the C3D approach of KISS. Because I’m am stupid.
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You posted this a few weeks ago, but I just paid attention to it (I do that, sometimes)…this might belong in the jog pendant discussion…but since you mentioned the screen change here…
I use a USB-connected remote keypad (like this, but not this exact one):
I can move it around the machine and it’s simple to use without looking at it. “Numlock-4,3,2,1-Numlock” sets the speed; arrows jog; pgup and pgdn move Z. Simple…and costs $8.
If you decide to merge the screens, will you please make sure simple solutions like this one will continue to work? Just please preserve the simple hotkey movements and speed assignments.
- Gary