Hey gang,

I am sure this isnt really the place to post this but, it kind of is.

What I am looking for is a site, a guide, multiple sites, multile guides,  stuff you found that helped you ...

I am looking for a start to finish, newb / intro  here is what you need to do to get from design to chips.

I have seen a similar video for a plasma cutter, (i will post it later)  I am looking to share other information.

who knows maybe we can get something stickied if we collect enough information.


I am reading tons, watching tons of video's and learning curve could be  bit easier if I could find it faster.

that said I am loving this stuff.

post your tidbits, maybe even suggest "a'ha" moments you had.

ie:
 -how to zero.
- how to make the letter Z on a block of ...
- what software got you to ....
...

Thanks

its poor quality video,  but this guy does from an image to cutting into plasma

its called   Art 2 CnC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc3RHS0UKCc

I can give you a few very broad tidbits. Some may find this offensive because they are so basic but I hope they help someone totally new a lot.

Read the manuals. This is the single biggest difference in the ones asking questions and the ones answering them. This is true across the board. Hardware, software, etc. Although we all absorb information at different rates none of us were born knowing these things. Asking some for help and asking someone to do your work for you are 2 totally different things.

All a controller does at the lowest level is very simple. They receive inputs (do some magic internally) and control outputs. This is automation of any type (PLCs, CNCs, Arduino, etc.). So in the end it is simply I/O. Some fast some slow some high some low but all I/O.

An input to one device is an output form another and an output from one device is an input to another. All you have to do is make them talk to one another and perform actions, stop actions in process or do nothing based on that conversation.

What is data? It is simply 1s or 0s. It can be arranged, defined, manipulated and interpreted in many ways but in the end it is 1s and 0s.

Keep it simple. Introducing more components or actions increases complexity and the potential failure points. An example would be: Drawing a circle in a cad program. Two simple arcs are usually much better than a bunch of tiny  line segments arranged in a circle.

Determine the specs first, write them down and build from that. Simple part, complex machine, Cad/Cam features, etc. If you have no clearly defined goals how will know when you have reached them? This is critical to the next tip.

Start simple and take one step at the time. An example would be: You have a 3 axis machine you want to get motion on. Get one axis running properly first then move to the next.

Document everything. Take time to save time. Take lots of notes. This will generate answers to your questions later and if you have to ask for assistance this is very critical.

Know this up front. When you decide to build your own CNC you become the designer. No one will know more about any creation than the creator. DIY CNC is just that. You do it yourself. To simply gather up a bunch of components, slap them together and then ask for help when it does not work as expected is a cheeky way of asking others to do your work for you.

This link may be helpful. http://www.cnccookbook.com/


I hope that helps,
Brett

 

As there are as many WAYS to do CNC as there are hairs on your head I do not know of any single source for CNC for Dummys.

Most have to learn it as they go BASED on HOW they are designing it to work AND what controller they are running.

A total CNC concept has a VERY steep learning curve IF you are starting from scratch. Studying up you can learn some general point about the process but the final leaning curve will be based on the approach you started with.  Each case can be unique.

NOW even iof you get as far as the Machine is done and working correctly the learning starts OVER again with learning the CNC processes.

Cad, you have to learn to draw the object in a form the CAM understands.

Cam , converts the drawing into machine code(gcode).

Gcode, runs the machine and you NEED to understand WHAT the machine is doing to know IF it is wrong(;-) or how to correct it.

Hand coding, for those simple projects that you need  without going back to CAD/CAM.

NOW each one of these process can be different depending on which package you started with. Cads can be different , Cams can be different AND Gcodes can be different with the various offerings.

(;-) TP

STUDY the Mach Manuals, then buy and STUDY the CNC Programing Handbook by Smid,then watch and STUDY every video on this site relating to CNC, also pick a CAD program and STUDY all available videos for it or the manuals, then go to Members Docs and read each one that is posted as that will give you an overview of software..........
For the electronics / electical part of CNC find a mentor that can help quide you to information sources.

For Design ......heck, been at it for 40 years and still stupid and humbled when  I enter anothers discipline!

As already noted.......not plug and play.....the learining never stops....BUT.....have fun at it!

RICH

The more you build and use the tools, software and components the more you learn.

I have always believed that; "We all need to educate, investigate & experience to understand what questions to ask."

Good comments guys.