SurfCAM Post Processor Nomad

CNC Machines Nomad
1

Hello All,

I am trying to get SurfCAM to output files for the Nomad, but am having a hard time finding the right post processor / settings. Seems like every option I have tried has at least 1 error in the code, so it will not run.

I am mostly getting grbl error 26 or 32 depending on the post. Seems grbl requires xyz words in the block which are not provided…

If anyone has experience using SurfCAM with the Nomad or any other GRBL CNC, please let me know what made it work.

If you would like more information like a sample .nc file please let me know. I didn’t want to overfill the initial post.

Thanks,
Jake

1 Like
2

There’s a bit of discussion on writing post processors here: https://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/G-Code#Post_Processors which may be of use if you haven’t already found it.

3

I have been looking through this information. Although, I am not sure how to actually make a post processor in SurfCAM.

I am using SurfCAM 2017 Traditional which does not seem to have many post processor options.
It comes with a program Post Menu Utility but this only lets you select an existing post processor from a huge list of options. If there was a known post processor that works, I could select it, but I do not see how I could make it from scratch or edit an existing one to work.

I think my problem is mostly coming from arc moves because the plane of the move is not defined.

4

Is there one for Grbl, LinuxCNC, or Mach3? (try in that order).

5

Unfortunately, seems those types aren’t supported…

Chevalier Anilam
APTCL
AXYZ
Bostomatic
BOXFORD
Bridgeport
Compact II
Davince
INC
Dynamyte
Dynapath
ENSHU HORI JE30s
Enshu
Fadal
Fagor
Fanuc
Generic
Haas
Heidenhain
Hitachi
Hurco
Huron
Kitamura
Makino
Matsurra
Mazak
Micron
Miltronics
Mitsubishi
MMPRO
OKK
Osp
Okuma
Prolight
Proto Trak
Roku
Shoda
ShopBot
Siemens
Smartcnc
SpectraLight
SuperMax
Thermwood
Yasnac

There are a few supported… Not sure if any of these use Grbl.

6

I’m afraid those are all commercial machines — how does the “Generic” one work?

One of the smaller mill manufacturers, Tormach? has shifted to using LinuxCNC — this page indicates that one can work up one’s own post-processor: http://traditional.surfcam.com/mpost

Documentation on the variant of G-Code which Grbl accepts is here: https://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/G-Code and on the Grbl githup page.

7

Here is a chunk from the Generic Posts.

%
O0001(INCAAA)
(MACHINE: GENERIC.M4 )
(RUNDATE: 8/2/2017 TIME: 6.13.02 PM)
G00 G17 G70 G40 G80 G90 M05 
 
T01 M06(DIAM: 0.125 -- CRAD:0)
G00 G90 G00 X0.3509 Y-0.6102 S9000 M03 
G43 Z1. H01 M09 
G00 Z0.1 
G01 Z0. F15.0 
X0.3061 
G03 X0.2936 Y-0.5977 Z-0.0017 I-0.0125 
X0.2811 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0034 I0. J-0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.6227 Z-0.005 I0.0125 J0. 
X0.3061 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0067 I0. J0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.5977 Z-0.0084 I-0.0125 J0. 
X0.2811 Y-0.6102 Z-0.01 I0. J-0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.6227 Z-0.0116 I0.0125 J0. 
X0.3061 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0133 I0. J0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.5977 Z-0.015 I-0.0125 J0. 
X0.2811 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0166 I0. J-0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.6227 Z-0.0183 I0.0125 J0. 
X0.3061 Y-0.6102 Z-0.02 I0. J0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.5977 Z-0.0217 I-0.0125 J0. 
X0.2811 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0234 I0. J-0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.6227 Z-0.025 I0.0125 J0. 
X0.3061 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0267 I0. J0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.5977 Z-0.0284 I-0.0125 J0. 
X0.2811 Y-0.6102 Z-0.03 I0. J-0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.6227 Z-0.0317 I0.0125 J0. 
X0.3061 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0333 I0. J0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.5977 Z-0.035 I-0.0125 J0. 
X0.2811 Y-0.6102 Z-0.0366 I0. J-0.0125 
X0.2936 Y-0.6227 Z-0.0383 I0.0125 J0. 
X0.3061 Y-0.6102 Z-0.04 I0. J0.0125 
G01 X0.2936 
X0.3509

It had the same initial error where Grbl didn’t recognize the program number. (Error in line 2: Syntax Error) - remove this line and continued.
1 O0001(INCAAA)

It then had Error in line 5: Unsupported G Code
5 G00 G17 G70 G40 G80 G90 M05

I tried removing G70 because it appears to be the only command in that line that is not supported.

Same error…

After removing G70 G40 and G80, this error went away.
Not sure why the other commands produced errors…

Now Error on Line 8: Multiple Motion Modes
8 G00 G90 G00 X0.3509 Y-0.6102 S9000 M03

Removed the second G00

Error in line 13: bad arc format, No I/J
13 G03 X0.2936 Y-0.5977 Z-0.0017 I-0.0125

Not sure what to edit here…

8

Also, from what I can see in MPost from SurfCAM, this lets me edit the header and footer of the gcode.

Their support told me they have to make the post if it affects the motion of the tool.

9

There is supposed to be a Mach 3 post-processor at: http://www.machsupport.com/software/downloads-updates/cam-post-processors/ — that should at least be a good starting point.

10

I have been looking through the posts from the machsupport link.
The only post I can find for SurfCAM was uploaded by a user to the forum and it is for a CNC Lathe.

I am still looking for options.

11

Well, I didn’t find a solution for SurfCAM, but in my search I found tons of resources for Fusion 360, so I will be using it instead.

Thank you all for the help.