Hello everyone
I wonder if anyone can help me,
I’m looking for a Blender plug-in that cane convert a Blender file (2.5D or 3D) to a Gcode using multiple axes (2,3,4,5,6), tool selection and selection of cut thickness
Many thanks
I just looked up G-code. Sounds complicated, but doable. You would probably have to do a good deal of tweaking to get it right, but it could work! I’ll respond again once I get an idea of how difficult it could be.
First off, take a look at this and see if it will do what you are looking for. Blender can export to DXF and if this program will import it and convert it, problem solved! The manual should give you a good idea of the capabilities.
If not, here is a script already written, it may do what you want:
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=44018
If neither of those are what you’re looking for, go ahead an describe the project. There appear to be many different “standards” for cnc notation, so It’s going to be of questionable usefulness to write an exporter for a single format. On the other hand, I suspect most cnc machines will import g-code, so it could be quite useful.
Errmm… I think this is a pretty complicated task, actually. G-code, if I understand correctly, is the vector instructions for a CNC mill. To go from a 3d mesh to G-code involves factoring in information about the cutting tools involved to approximate the resulting shape - not a trivial job. Getting into more than a three-axis mill - I don’t even know where you would start!
Most mills come with software that can take an STL or IGES file and make a cut file, no? I think Mastercam is one?
I may have totally misunderstood your questions, too…
RS
Thanks for your answers, I’m still lookinf for this, so far I found some 3rd party Software that can in theory work with 5 axis (X,Y,Z,A,B) and the 6th is the rotary table (spindle), but the cost if prohibitive.
I wonder if will be hard to get support from the comunity to write this kind of tool, I very sure that this could bring lot interest from the engineering and hobbyst comunity to Blender.
I, also checked the gcode plugin (this is a good starting point, but only works with old blender version) 
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=44018
The idea is for my wife, who is interested on start a small business/hobby to create a wood objects and cnc them those are a very artistic objects and the use of 5 axis will be good
I designing the CNC 5 axis router/mill with the rotary table.
if anyone kind to help me in this project, please let me know, I think that people like me would consider buy this module for Blender, specialy when my main OS platform is Linux 
and many people will see this a small source of income :spin:
Thanks
a despair man, trying to fulfil wife ambitions with intentions to do something for herslef
Help!!
Gcode generation can be done with the mesh as far as I know, the idea is to create the tool path and the depth of each cut, this is accordingly with the thickness of the material to cut or engrave.
the uses of 5 axis, I agree is not easy task, but can be done just need a very good Phyton developer engineer and very enthusiastic to get involve
I also check mastercam, is the software that do all this stuff but is very expensive, and Blender has all already in place and is capable to do even a better job, just need someone to take the model, apply the tool path and generate the gcode
sounds easy ah!,
but is not for me 
I am making the same project. Have you got a solution “blender-to-g-code” during last year?
i’m not sure what gcode is but maybe this will help http://blenderunderground.com/2008/03/05/blender-for-woodworking/#more-76
but 5 axises should be enough. the x, y and z axises would all combine to aind the position of the lower fixed point, and since the carving tool would be a fixed size all you would need is the top axises for x and y this would give you the 360 degree angle, and the fixrd tool length would automatically provide the upper z height since the carving tool wouldn’t be changing size.
think of a pencil, to draw a point on a paper the points x,y and z are all known. now you can keep the pencil point in the same place and twirl the eraser andwhere you want. you are changing the x and y points for the top of the pencil, but since the pencil dosn’t stretch the height is alutmatically decided for you. the greater the distance the eraser point is on x or y axis makes the z axis automatically go down untill the eraser is the max distance (= to the pencil length) away from the led point at which point the eraser z axis would automatically = the led tip z axis since the pencil would be laying flat. the only time you would need a z axis for the upper end is if your carving tool becomes longers or shorter while carving, whcih power tools dont, they stay the same size.
Gray depth map has only one value for each XY point, but 4+ axis machine can do more than value for each point.