Made it into the pro forum and this was the first thread I read. Answered pretty much all the questions I’ve been wondering about and I got a look at the firecontrol software for first time! Not gonna lie - parting with that cash on a purchase I didn’t have the details / specs on was a little unnerving - but I took a leap of faith.
I’m a software developer (25yrs) and this is a new hobby for me. I don’t have alot if experience with Gcode, but I’ve immersed myself in Sheetcam, Adobe Illustrator and Fusion360 past few weeks, and love it - very powerful stuff and I’ve got a solid workflow for generating gcode now in just about any scenario I might need - might even write a few pieces of software to help me automate a few steps.
My impressions:
Great that you are doing your own motion control software. I wondered about you guys letting Mach3 be the ‘frontend’ to your machine - you were basically giving another company control over your product - which didn’t make much sense to me. I was going to be very disappointed if I was stuck with Mach3 on the pro - I downloaded it and played with it for a while - it’s garbage and should have been retired years ago - made the decision I would not invest any time in it. I also got Mach4 demo and it is much better, and was comfortable investing time with that moving forward, but was going to wait until I had the table to see what I needed to do - was considering a smooth stepper board, etc…so I could use Mach4 if it came to it - but I think you guys made the best possible call on this. Excited to see what you guys are doing on this front.
Opensource - don’t waste your time. It will add little to no value to your company and give your competitors advantage. You make right call on this. I am paying you to give me a product I can use - although I could probably write Firecontrol, I don’t want to - I want to use the table to make stuff and don’t want the software getting in my way. If you want to tinker with the software, see if LS has any job openings. The opensourcers can go LinuxCNC or other…never hurts to give them a path to do that…but without support or warranty.
THC - what you’ve got looks great - can’t wait to try it out!
My adds for the feature list (If that’s already on the list, add a thumbs up from me.)
Quick Cut library - ability to call up commonly cut pieces that I can keep stored without having to go back to cad or hunt down the g code file. Have 10 or so ‘common’ pre built cuts like a 4x4 flange with bolt holes, etc…and the ability to add user defined cut paths for quick recall. Also a recall for last 5-10 cuts. This may already be in the software (I’m just getting started reading the Pro forum) - if so great!
Looks great and cant wait to get the table - I’m in the April lot, so looking forward to seeing all the January user feedback! I’ll be running with a Miller 625 Xtreme with CNC control board and 25’ machine torch.
It looks like you could use your Mach3 g-code in crossfire software , by editing the g-code.
No tool #
H0 if no THC or H1 to yes THC control.
If you have a Probe change from G31 to G38.2 and G38.4
Look the screen shots to see the g-code.
This is absolutely nuts I got an email saying the last box of my order is out for delivery… I have no electronics and no bolts please tell me what the hell my 3500 went to? If i return one box at a time will u be ok with this?
I just checked on your order and your final CrossFire Box (Box #2 containing all the hardware and electronics) is currently in transit (Los Angeles right now) and is scheduled for delivery on Thursday!
I have also sent you a Private Message with a link to your tracking #. Hope this helps!
Engineer… I’m sure that guy doesn’t need or want your input. You hijack a message then start calling him names…the man is deservedly frustrated, as are the rest of us still waiting on box 2. He has every right to voice his option. Maybe you should just butt out and mind your own business. Because now you’re the one that looks like an idiot or @sshole. My 2 cents.
Greetings. I do not have a Crossfire Pro yet. I am in batch #2.
I have been reading the forum for a while and noticed that many here have been waiting for a Vectric Post Processor. I have looked at the sheetcam pp and tweaked it for VCarvePro. Comparing the output of simple shapes, the tap files appear similar between VCarve and Sheetcam. I am including them in this post so that users with a Crossfire Pro can test them. They have the code included for the THC. If you don’t have the THC, you might have to remove the sections of code where the THC is turned on and off (?). Perhaps Langmuir Systems can examine this code and modify it to work more correctly as necessary.
BTW I have to rename these files to .tap files to get them to upload. rename them to .pp files and place them in your PostP directory within Vectric.
NB:
I do not have my machine to test yet.
This is Alpha software. There are no guarantees that it will even work.
Vectric post processors have not conditional statements, so there are at least 2 post processors. There will be 4 if you include 2 post processors that have the THC code removed.
It may or may not work with Cut-2D and Aspire.
I have left debugging messages in there that will show up in the .tap file. They can be deleted later when we know that the code works.
Testing should be done carefully, most safely with the torch off.
When I get a machine, I will do more testing. If you do test, please respond and let me know how it goes.
Awesome. I’m waiting on a 14 pin connector to get everything going, but I do have Aspire for my CNC’s. I will give this a try when I can. Thanks! Welcome to the forum.
Congratulations on the start of a new chapter When I owned the business I told people it was harder than working for the business. Instead of worrying about your mortgage, you’re worried about everyone’s
Hey MetalCutter, any updates on the Vectric post processor? I’m wanting to order a Crossfire Pro but don’t want to deal with another software!
Thanks
Randy
Hi Randy,
One other person has tried it and he says it works. I have run it and it looks like it works fine, but I don’t have any 240V in my shop yet, so I can’t fire the torch .
It is not a complex task to write the PP and can be tweaked if necessary. The Vectric PPs can’t do calculations, but there aren’t that many in the SheetCam PP and I have tried to work around them. I plan on using this PP, so if I find any problems I will update on this forum.
I don’t blame you for not wanting to learn another package just to run a 2D image.
Autodesk is slow, complex, and overkill, although it is highly useful, capable, and free.
SheetCam would work, but it does take some more understanding and costs $140.
Having a PP for Vectric is handy since you (and I) know it. It is easy to design the work and simply using the PP export the .tap file. Just create a tool database for plasma cutting and it will work for you. I think that modifying a milling tool for each metal & thickness rather than their plasma tool would work better; their plasma tool doesn’t look like it gives you the flexibility you might need.
The Crossfile Pro is easy to assemble and certainly less expensive than any other product I’ve seen. Now the delivery date is in September, so you might want to order one soon so you can have it going before winter.
Thanks Steve. This is very helpful and much appreciated. I do plan to get one on order.
I downloaded your tap files you posted here on March 20. Have you made any changes to them since then?
When you mention setting up a different tool for each metal and thickness I guess that is so I can set the torch travel speed? I was thinking that would be done in FireControl.
When I owned the business I told people it was harder than working for the business. Instead of worrying about your mortgage, you’re worried about everyone’s 
.