Can you directly obtain G-code from Inventor Pro 2012?

[Gray Adams]

Originally Posted by docdavies

I told myself I wouldn't do this....but it seems that I do need to get a copy of Solidworks so that I can open and edit some robotic arm plans I've been downloading. I have been using Autodesk Inventor Pro up till now, but for some reason, most of the hobbyist sites post plans in Solidworks format. Sometimes Inventor picks them right up...sometimes not.....or it distorts the scale in a strange way. So a couple of questions...
1. Is there a way to get a copy of SolidWorks through FIRST like there is with Inventor?
2. Can Solidworks open .ai files? I have not been able to find a way to do it in Inventor Pro.
3. Does anyone have a link to the SolidWorks Plug in to generate g-code.
4. Can Inventor Pro open .ai files?

On a happy note...I finally wore the school folks down and they are ordering MasterCAM art...should be emailed in a day or so. I'm going to have that Welsh Dragon logo on my robot soon after that!!

1. We filled out this survey (it took about 10 minutes) and they sent us a few discs and enough licenses for the number of people we said we have on our team. It took about a week or so to get the discs.
2. If .ai is Adobe Illustrator, I sincerely doubt Mastercam, Solidworks, or Inventor can open it. But I don't know for certain about any of those.
3. Mastercam for Solidworks is probably what you're looking for, but it definitely isn't free.

[Darren Collins]

There is software for both solidworks (solidcam) and inventor (inventorcam) that runs within the respected programs and helps you to generate g-code. However, even with these programs it will still take effort to generate the toolpaths and set the work offset etc. This software is not written by Autodesk and it costs several hundred dollars for each license. Here's price quote that I got from them.

$300 – SolidCAM/InventorCAM Base EDU
$400 - SolidCAM/InventorCAM Base EDU + HSM - (HSM gives the user more advanced functionality for machining true 3D organic surfaced models like injection mold parts)
$500 - SolidCAM/InventorCAM Base EDU + HSM + Simultaneous 5 Axes

Our team currently uses Inventor and Mastercam and it works just fine for us. That being said, we have considered trying out inventorcam because the toolpaths are linked to sketches and will automatically change with them. Mastercam Art does have the raster to vector ability as well. I hope this helps.

[docdavies]

Darren,

Thanks. Up till now we have gone the Inventor Pro --> MasterCAM route. Works fine when we're doing the designing and machining. But we're setting up for summer projects and are following others plans. Seems the hobbyist scene uses every conceivable format but IP...and a few I think they made up.
We have maxed our "how about some help" from the school budget and can't afford any packages after they did get us MasterCAM art.
Guess we'll just get the rulers and mics out, print the plans in some format and just IP2012 them ourselves. Nothing's ever easy but it might prove good experience for the freshman.

[awhatmough]

Any school team can request SolidWorks for their team here

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?s...sEYt6D7g_3d_3d

You can then Download HSMXpress here www.hsmxpress.com to toolpath the part.

There are some great youtube videos to show you how to use HSMXpress here

http://www.youtube.com/user/NexGenCAM/featured

As far as importing an ai. An Ai is a vector image most software that produces and AI will also produce a DXF.

To covert the file from a AI to a DXF you could open it Adobe or Corel Draw and save it as a Dxf. This DXF can then be imported by either SolidWorks or inventor.

Hope this helps

[roystur44]

One of the easiest to learn CAM packages is called GibbsCam. Our team has a sponsor that uses this software to CNC mill all the parts they make for us. The package will import all types of CAD files and is very simple to use.

One of my next projects is to introduce some of the CAD team to learning how to unfold sheetmetal and to program using a CAM package.

I think GibbsCam would make a great software sponsor. The higher powers of First should give them a call and make a pitch.

Take a look at their website:

http://www.gibbscam.com/

http://www.gibbscam.com/news_events/...ibrary&con=157

http://www.gibbscam.com/news_events/...ibrary&con=121