Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: musicworld1 on November 19, 2016, 01:58:32 PM
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I am building wood CNC router but it is not finished yet.
Suppose, I have finished it, tested all stepper motors, limit & home switches with Mach3.
Then, need to start working in real time. But there, needs guidance to start making drawing of one line or a big design in CAD program TO real-time engraving.
Please suggest me the basic tutorials or articles or book to get started.
I want to think about the things to do before when my CNC machine will be completed.
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start making drawing of one line or a big design in CAD program TO real-time engraving.
That is done with CAM software.
Letting people know your budget will help people suggest software.
Learning how to 'hand' write simple G-Code programs for a milling machine will help you understand how your machine works and how to trouble shoot your CAM generated programs.
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CNC Cookbook may be a good place to get started http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCCNCGCodeCourse.htm
Tweakie.
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Youtube is loaded with stuff on CAM tutorials, many different programs in use from basic drawing and sketch up to Illustrator etc, for an all in one CAD - CAM setup you probably won't get better than Vectric Aspire or one of the sub-variants - this will get you drawing, text, engraving, carving etc. InkScape is a great little program and its free, this will get you the ability to draw vector paths which is what is needed to pass on to a CAM program, something like SheetCam is a fantastic one for sheet work (not 3d) I use it a lot on the Plasma cutter.
I feel it only fair to let you know that in my opinion at least, CAD & CAM is one of the hardest parts of CNC to get right, this is where the learning curve starts - converting an idea in your head or a sketch on paper into G-Code that can run a machine to create that part is a big undertaking. The good thing is that it is a steep learning curve - once you get going it gets easier very quickly. :)
I have just started learning Fusion360 - a full 3d CAD / CAM app, but I would recommend starting on the easy end of the scale :)
As i said, YouTube is your friend here I think, also join some CAD forums etc.
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Hi,
another useful learning tool is to use Mach3 Wizards. There are quite a few for basic stuff
like drilling bolt circles and pocketing and similar. They generate Gcode which you can run
but more importantly view to see how a Gcode program works.
Look under the 'Wizards Tab' and prepare to be impressed!
Craig
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Purchase, read, study the book CNC Programming Handbook by Peter Smid.
There are many CAD programs available to do 2D, some are free, a lot of cnc programs include one, they all have different
but similar interfaces. I don't think anyone can go wrong with CamBam for the money and gcode generation.
Learn to walk before you run and enjoy the learning curve,
RICH