QCAD.org Forum

Hi. I'm quite new on using Qcad/CAM and I can't find very detailed documentation that explains how to do it by myself.

I read the help-file who it is pointing to this link, but still I'm not sure that I have all the information that I need to do it by myself. For example I don't understand how I can associate layer names with different machining options and how I can create by myself these CAM settings.

Also seems that the tool library (CAM tools) it is not saved? I need to recreate my own tool library with every new drawing that I'm creating? I am missing something? How I can create my own CAM tools and save/load them?

How to create my own post-processor file for my machine? I'm using a MasterCAM one.

I will be very grateful to see a better documentation. Also some youtube videos will be of great help, as they are right now very scarce.

Dacicusan wrote:For example I don't understand how I can associate layer names with different machining options and how I can create by myself these CAM settings.

You would typically create toolpaths from your entities. If all entities on a layer are processed with the same parameters, you would create one toolpath from all entities on that layer.

Dacicusan wrote:Also seems that the tool library (CAM tools) it is not saved? I need to recreate my own tool library with every new drawing that I'm creating? I am missing something? How I can create my own CAM tools and save/load them?

That's correct. You will have to add the tools for each new drawing. However, you could load an old drawing as a starting point or template of a new drawing to use the same tools.

A tool library is planned for a future version of QCAD/CAM.

Dacicusan wrote:How to create my own post-processor file for my machine? I'm using a MasterCAM one.

The link you've posted above should give you a starting point for a first own configuration. Once you have that working, feel free to post any more specific questions here.

andrew wrote:You would typically create toolpaths from your entities. If all entities on a layer are processed with the same parameters, you would create one toolpath from all entities on that layer.

Ok, but I need to associate ALL the geometry from a specific layer to a specific kind of mechanisation. My layers are setup to be imported for batch processing in different CAM applications like WoodWop and AlphaCAM. There I have a configuration file where I wrote how to read different layers and how to associate different CNC operations depending on the layer names.

Something like this: WoodWOP_Layer_Names_to_DXF_Geometry.pdf, but I created my own layer name notation. For example "P_T6_2" means Pocket operation using the Tool number 6 and a depth of 2mm. "OS_T4_10" means Outside contour using the tool nr. 4, and a cut of 10mm deep.

I need to be able to do the same sort of workflow in QcadCAM using a configuration file.