Lightburn’s workflow is awesome and well suited to Plasma.
Sheetcam on the other hand is clumsy and cumbersome though it is currently the only real offering . Lightburn for the Masso controller would be awesome. Maybe you can do some sort of deal with them to create an OEM frontend for their controller like you have done for the ruida and target Plasma. Just a thought. I have 4 masso controlled machines including a laser and a plasma.
Agreed that LB workflow between design and toolpath is awesome and very well suited for laser. However I do use LB and SheetCAM for my plasma process, have done so for the the past 1.5 years, and I find the workflow between the two to be quite seamless considering the LB export (.svg) and SC import process. Extremely error free and quick, seconds.
LB is working on two enhancements simultaneously that may prove to apply well to plasma process. MillMage, a separate twin product specific to CNC milling process; and in LB a ‘Generic GCode’ device profile that will allow custom gcode blocks with substitution vars for events similar to SCs OnRapid(), OnPenDown(), etc. Both are in beta now. I’ve tried Generic GCode model in LB v1.5 beta a month ago, its impressive but doubtful to reach SC caliber in first release. I’ve not tried MIllMage yet, but I’m hopeful it can be adapted to plasma as I believe it also has ‘Generic GCode’ device profile; I may find time this week to try it. I believe the target release for this product and feature is 1H/2024, and you may be able to enter the beta now. Send an email to LB Support to inquire.
What I like about the LB CAD / SC CAM solution is that I can visually see the actual kerf width on the toolpath, that is extremely helpful to verify inside/outside kerf and bridging between shapes; and its easy to flip on and off. I like to see the direction of cuts to verify; and I like to be able to easily adjust pierce point, leadin, leadout, style of both, and adjust on a per-cut basis if necessary; albeit SC is very ‘intelligent’ with its automatic placement of pierce point, left/right kerf, and direction of cut is always matching my torch swirl ring (kerf left/save right as the torch moves -X-Y). And if I have made any of the above adjustments in SC, minor LB drawing changes do not cause SC to revert to autogen mode of those features. Of course last but not least like is the ability to completely customize the post processor for the exact gcode to suit my machine and situation. I understand the SC UI can be clumsy at first, but once you acquire a taste for it, I find it very fluid.
I recently helped a SC user tweak a MASSO .scpost to support rotary. And just this morning I posted my GRBL plasma w THC and Rotary .scpost to share, you can review or download it here: GRBL Plasma w THC, Torch Touchoff, and Rotary - sheetcam.com
I’d be happy to discuss and/or help with LB/SC workflow in the interim, send me a PM if interested.
Cheers,
Lou
1 Like
Thanks Lou
We are very similar in our backgrounds. (retired Techies).
I am trying to transition everything to my MacBook as I find windows bloated and always slowing down. That is why I am very interested in the Lightburn new product if and when it becomes available.
Thank you
Greg.
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.