CAM software

[Mac The Knife]

With a different layer for each machining operation, you will have some crazy looking drawings, but it works really well, and Les keeps improving it.

[KAS]

Is it not common for CAM software to open STL files? anyways, I've been watching this channel for a while. Thinking I'm going to go ahead and purchase the mill and start learning the manual way first before converting it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8upDZVgxfc[/youtube]

[mhackney]

KAS, "it depends"! Most 2-1/2D CAM packages I've used do not import STL - there really isn't that much need to. Most files are exported from CAD as DXF that is input into CAM. The true 3D and 3D with a 4th axis do usually import STLs.

I advocate learning a little manual machining first. It will save you a lot of frustration and broken tools once you covert to CNC. There is enough of a learning curve with simple things like mounting the workpiece, setting the datum, etc that is directly applicable to both manual and CNC machining.

[DavidF]

KAS, "it depends"! Most 2-1/2D CAM packages I've used do not import STL - there really isn't that much need to. Most files are exported from CAD as DXF that is input into CAM. The true 3D and 3D with a 4th axis do usually import STLs.

I advocate learning a little manual machining first. It will save you a lot of frustration and broken tools once you covert to CNC. There is enough of a learning curve with simple things like mounting the workpiece, setting the datum, etc that is directly applicable to both manual and CNC machining.

And for gods sake! Do not use the stop button in Mach3!!!! It loses it reference data when you restart and starts milling where you really dont want it to. Ask me how I found this out...

[KAS]

haha, well to be honest I have mach3 up and running controlling a pmdx-126 over parallel spinning the heck out of some pieces of un-referenced tape on the steppers flopping all over my workbench in the garage.

[mhackney]

I hope that wasn't a fatal mistake KAS! General wisdom on the CNCZone is not to hook up the motors and spin them until you have the mechanical build complete. The Zone is filled with stalled projects and almost all of them spun their motors first!

[Mac The Knife]

Here's an inexpensive 3d cam that uses stl files, I've yet to open a dxf with it. It also does lithopane. http://www.grzsoftware.com/

[JFettig]

STL files are like the bottom of the line very poor cad file in my opinion. I hate the fact that I have to use them for 3d printing but it turns out stratasys, etc. also use them for printing.

[KAS]

I hope that wasn't a fatal mistake KAS! General wisdom on the CNCZone is not to hook up the motors and spin them until you have the mechanical build complete. The Zone is filled with stalled projects and almost all of them spun their motors first!

It's not as bad as I made it sound. I purchased all the electronics for a KRMx02 set of plans that I have. I just hooked everything up to make sure it works, nothing was ramped up to full speed or stopped instantly. It was just tested to make sure the geckodrive controllers and steppers worked as I knew this project would take me well passed the warranty.


I lost interest in the Kronos KRMx02 cnc and thought I'd just design my own, that's when my "project" stalled and something else shinny caught my eye. I have a bad habit of picking up hobbies like pennies off a sidewalk.

[img]http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5 ... ormat=750w[/img]

[geneb]

Some people have hobbies that involve collecting things.

Geeks collect hobbies.

g.

[JFettig]

I randomly came across a FREE cam software! HSMxpress. I just programmed my first part in it and its quite nice!

The only catch is - you must own a copy of SolidWorks. I believe education versions also work but installing it on a pirated copy is probably a good way to get yourself caught.

http://www.hsmworks.com/hsmxpress/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The software is only 2.5D, to get 3D you gotta pay for the full thing but I guess the 2.5D is pretty much everything HSMworks has. Its VERY easy to run, way easier than MasterCAM.

[Polygonhell]

I randomly came across a FREE cam software! HSMxpress. I just programmed my first part in it and its quite nice!

The only catch is - you must own a copy of SolidWorks. I believe education versions also work but installing it on a pirated copy is probably a good way to get yourself caught.

http://www.hsmworks.com/hsmxpress/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The software is only 2.5D, to get 3D you gotta pay for the full thing but I guess the 2.5D is pretty much everything HSMworks has. Its VERY easy to run, way easier than MasterCAM.

I mentioned it on the previous page. I use it pretty much exclusively, there is a lot to like about it, though occasionally it's not obvious how to get a specific operation to behave the way you want.

[JFettig]

Maybe it wasn't so random!

Definitely a nice tool and I plan to use it exclusively for the couple machines I use unless I need something 3d - then I need to bug a friend.