The Home Machinist!

Still have not started converting an X3 mill to CNC but have looked at some of the demo software programs available out there. While I am trying to decide on a final design for the mill I would like to learn the software side of it.

I found Mach3 to be relatively user friendly however I am still trying to find a program for converting my drawings into the G-code. So far I have used Turbocad for drawings.

Any recommendations for a DXF to G-code converter for importing into Mach3 ? BTW, already tried the demo version of LCAM and was totally lost if it is actually a demo version or an abandoned project. I could never so much as find a basic intro manual for it.

Being a beginner myself, I found the book EZ Cnc from Square-1
is a very good book. It walks through generic drawing programs
as well as auto-sketch, from autocad. You can find the book at:
http://www.cncintro.com/ The book walks you through an easy
example, which is what I needed. You can read a review of the book at:
http://www.cartertools.com/easycnc.html

Autosketch is not too expensive, but I didn't even want to spend
$150 while I practiced. (And am still!)

You may want to play a bit with the tools from alibre design.
www.alibre.com. They are very different from typical cad, but
are very powerful and have a free version...which remains
powerful even after the evaluation period is over. I really liked
it.
I have also played with cadstd...which is a free package.
http://www.cadstd.com/ and runs on windows.

I also found older copies of turbo-cad for sale at amazon.com. I have
put links to a few here below in the chaski 'store', but there are several
more if you dig through amazon's search engine.

http://astore.amazon.com/chaskistore1-2 ... F8&node=74

Good luck and post what you find and like, please.
-Mike

_________________
www.chaski.com

Thanks for the info Mike, I will try and check it out when things slow down after the seasonal stuff. I just picked up a book the other day which is a beginner's book to CNC, not sure offhand what the name is but will pass on what I think of it.

I have had Turbocad for quite a while now but have never learned to use it all that well although I think that it is very capable. I am interested in finding out just how much is involved in the G-Code for a relatively complicated part and if the simpler programs can recognize a DXF file well enough to make the code.

I will definitely pass on what I learn.

Mike

I haven't used it myself but SheetCAM gets good marks from users.

_________________
Mike, near Chicago

I use Deskcnc for converting drawing to machine code.

Here is an old link where you can see it.

http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... ht=deskcnc

Jim

_________________
Tool & Die Maker/Electrician, Retired 2007

So much to learn and so little time.

www.outbackmachineshop.com

You might try Dolphin Cad/Cam. I haved been using the trial version and it is very intuitive and user friendly. They have a "Hobbyist" pricing too.

Rick

Anybody do anything at all with google sketch?

http://sketchup.google.com/

Can it do anything useful at all?

Looks like a lot of buildings and landscapes.

-Mike

_________________
www.chaski.com