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LuaCAM

Use Lua as an IR language to generate G-Codes. Provides GUI and minimal geometry kernel in C.

TODO

  1. create C API for Lua 1a. [ ] configure build system
  2. create geometry kernel in C API
  3. flesh out luaCAM
  4. create GUI
  5. solidify api before integrating into LinuxCNC

Features

  • First class support for LinuxCNC and RS274NGC
  • Provides unit "tuple" to ensure units are always correct, i.e. {12.34, unit["mm"]}
  • The control defintion for a machine allows you to use non-traditional languages like OpenSBP or TPL
  • Inline comment formatting
  • Static analysis tools for G-Code using Machinespec files
  • Machdef files allows you to fully utilize and maintain the safety of your machines
  • Toolpaths are designed to maintain constant velocity and chipload

Design and Philosophy

LuaCAM is designed to replace traditional CAM systems and workflows for a more efficient design. It treats CNC programs like software development. Tools are categorized by the machining strategy they support. Tools can only support one machining strategy.

LuaCAM Editor

Here's a quick overview of the provided GUI editor.

Features

  • Workspaces for Toolpath, Tool, and Machine
  • Builtin LSP, with OTB support for NeoVim
  • Builtin machine, tool, & fixture configurators
  • Toolpath workspace directly tests and validates the output GCodes using the control definition
  • Machine simulation accurately simulates feedrate of machine
  • Extends ldoc to support image/icon popups

File Formats

  • "*.lon" = lua object notation, a lua module that must return a single table
  • "*.3dpath" = lua file with special environment to represent LuaCAM's geometry.path object
  • "*.toolpath" = extends the 3dpath file format to specifically represent toolpaths, similar to tpl
  • "*.machdef" = file format to define a machine's kinematics
  • "*.ctrldef" = file format to define a machine's controller
  • "*.tools." = a tool library saved in a plain text format; fmt = ("lua"|"lon"|"txt"|"csv"|"xml")
  • "*.tooldb" = a tool library saved in a binary database file, preferably SQLite