Pre-Newbie looking for recommendations

[Chuck Stone]

Hey folks..
Looking for some recommendations on software.
Recently picked up a home built CNC router, but no software
except for Mach 3 LazCam. That will get the DFX into G code, but
I have no experience with anything like this. I've worked in Photoshop
and Corel since the early 90's, but nothing to do with CNC.
So ..
Need to spend some money, I guess. But looking at the websites of
the companies most often mentioned for CAD and CAM stuff, I about
choked on the prices. I'm trying to do this without selling off any children.

To start, I need to rout out some boxes. Just long rectangular holes
with radius corners. But pretty soon I'll have to start getting a bit
further into it, perhaps carving with V bits, ball nose bits.. doing
some lithophanes, 3D carvings and such. Nothing all that big, the
unit is only 22x28 right now. (might expand it later)

What software programs would you recommend for starting out?
The LazCam came on the computer, but I haven't set it up yet.
And from the blogs the previous owner wrote, it doesn't sound like
he was all that sold on it himself. But perhaps it isn't the most up
to date version, I don't know.
It would be good if the designing program also did the G code
and ran the machine.. but I don't know if that's too much to ask.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I've been doing some
reading and searching here, but 99% of the answers have been
over my head.

Thanks for any suggestions..

[Michael Simpson Virgina]

First make sure it is a licenced version of Mach3. If its not it will be of little use. On top of that It depends on what you want to do. For basic cutting I would go with Corel Draw and Cut 2D. If you want to get into 3D carving then you will need to spend much more money for something like Vcarve or ASpire. Vcarve is probably a good middle ground. Cut 2D is only $149 and can do line carvings but not true 3D stuff. Its great for cutting parts for furnature. May workfolw is to design the part in Corel Draw then export as a eps. I import the eps into Cut 2D and go through and setup my cut paths. I then export directly to mach3. The process with Vcarve is the same just more options along the way.

[Russ Revels]

If you can handle the $600 for VCarvePro, I would recommend that as a start. It will allow you to do your drawing natively as well as import from your other software. It will also generate the gcode for you to take to Mach3. It will do everything that Aspire will except the 3d. For 3d initially you can download the 3d machinist software from Vectorart3d and play with their free files to get a feel for 3d. You can incorporate the 3d files from 3dmachinist into your VCarve designs also. If the money is a problem then I agree with Michael that cut2d would be a good start.

[Michael Simpson Virgina]

I also believe that you can upgrade from Cut2D to Vcarve pro. This gives you an upgrade path if you later move to Vcarve Pro. Vistit the website for the actual details.

[Chuck Stone]

I've been to the websites.. it wasn't good for my blood pressure though.
I've been playing with CamBam for the last couple of hours, watching videos
for Mach3 and talking to a machinist about what he uses.
Looks like it's going to hurt the wallet no matter what..

[james mcgrew]

just pretend the wallet is inyour wifes back pocket!

[Joey Jarrard]

just pretend the wallet is inyour wifes back pocket!

Jim that is what I do

[Chuck Stone]

Jim that is what I do

But .. you don't even know my wife..

[Brad Knight]

That's why everything I do comes with the sales pitch of, look dear - see what I can make for you!!!

[james mcgrew]

make something for her church or civic group, a sign for her bookclub.

she will leave you alone after that!!

[Richard DiMaggio]

Chuck,
Corel can export a DXF file. I build CNC machines. Maybe I can help you out. Shoot me an email and maybe we can get a dialog going. I built my current flatbed laser engraver using linear motors and wrote all the software for it myself. I also converted a Bridgeport to CNC, same thing.
rj

[Chuck Stone]

Richard.. thanks for the reply. My eyes are still crossed from trying out all sorts
of programs in Demo mode.. which helps me not at all. I know I need to buy
something, but if I can't see it actually bite into the wood then all it really does
is make pretty pictures on my screen. So far I've gotten Mach3 to cut a pocket,
but mostly air cutting. I can't tell where it will start yet.. and i probably erased
some key settings that tell it where Home is. As I said, I'm really not even a
newbie yet.
I can get around in Corel OK, but more often in Photoshop (20+ years with that)
and then importing into Corel if I need vector. But I have no idea how Corel will
do anything 3D yet.. I just haven't gotten far enough into it. (or 2D, 2.5D)

I spent the weekend tweaking existing code to see what it does when I make
changes, and watching videos online. Except for Sketchup, I didn't find any
Phd videos. (Press Here, Dummy) I seem to learn best by working backwards,
I guess..

I'll send you a note. And thanks!