Dovetail Gadget Question

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jimandi5000
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Dovetail Gadget Question

Post by jimandi5000 »

Hello All,

I hope you and your family are health and safe.

I am writing a "New" through Dovetail gadget and I have a question to all of you on what would you find more valuable?

Gadget design 1: The gadget would not read the Job setup. You enter values for Front and Side material thickness. The code calculates the max number tails count and will draw the geometry and makes all of the Toolpaths.

Gadget design 2: The gadget reads the Job setup (Material thickness would be equal for both the Front and Sides) and the code calculates the max number of pins and tails and draws the geometry and makes the Toolpaths.

Gadget design 3: The gadget would not read the Job setup. You enter the Front material thickness, Side material thickness and the number of tails for the joint. Then it draws the geometry and makes the Toolpaths.

What design do you think would be best 1, 2 or 3?

Please let me know.
Attachments
Just a starting point.
Just a starting point.
Thanks,
Jim

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gkas
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Re: Dovetail Gadget Question

Post by gkas »

3, I think it is the most flexible.

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SteveNelson46
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Re: Dovetail Gadget Question

Post by SteveNelson46 »

gkas wrote:
Fri May 08, 2020 6:35 am
3, I think it is the most flexible.
Me too. I think 3 would be the most versatile.
Steve

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jimandi5000
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Re: Dovetail Gadget Question

Post by jimandi5000 »

Thanks guys... I will start a fresh and get started on writing a brand new Dovetail gadget. I am sure I can have something for you to test drive is 6 months or so... ;)
Thanks,
Jim

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gkas
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Re: Dovetail Gadget Question

Post by gkas »

That's good..... 'Bout fits in with my backlog of Michael Tyler projects. 8)

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jimandi5000
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Re: Dovetail Gadget Question

Post by jimandi5000 »

Hello All,

I hope you and family are healthy and safe.

I have been a busy bee day. I have been working on the New Dovetail Gadget design. I have a design now that I think will work now. I do appreciate the input you all provided and it really helped. I have posted some pictures of the screens and it is working to the most part.

This is what I have as of now.

The Design:
1. The gadget will need to support the older and newer versions of the Vectric software.
2. The gadget will read the Job setup to get the Datum and stock orientation.
3. User will select the bits from the Tool database(s). (see Issues List)
4. User can change Front and or Side material thickness.
5. User can enter the number of Tails or enter the size of Tail needed.
6. The code should do a full validation of error trapping to give the user the best chance of success.
6a. Trap Values (No blanks)
6b. Bits being used for size and depth issues
6c. etc...

Issue List:
1. The Vectric Tool Database does not support the Dovetail type bit.

The Fix List:
1. Built a Tool database for Dovetail bits with user maintenance screens.
1a. Dovetail database is a txt file that can be edited in Notepad if needed
1b. Built a user interface to add new dovetail bit to the database
1c. The interface supports editing an existing bits in the Tool database


Please let me know if you see I am missing anything.

I should have something to show in a day to two. :)
Attachments
Main User Interface
Main User Interface
DovetailGadget_2.jpg
DovetailGadget_3.jpg
DovetailGadget_4.jpg
Dovetail Tool Database
Dovetail Tool Database
DovetailTool.ini.txt
Had to add the txt to the file name
(2.58 KiB) Downloaded 99 times
Thanks,
Jim

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jimandi5000
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Re: Dovetail Gadget Question

Post by jimandi5000 »

Great Progress!!!

Got it working :)
Attachments
Front broad pins
Front broad pins
draw.jpg
Thanks,
Jim

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