(11-27-2020, 01:10 PM)John Mihich Wrote: I am going to buy one of the entry level CNC router machines. I have a cheap lazer that I use and it's easy to program and use. How/where can I learn about 3d CNC? I'm sure there are places I can search but you guys have already have done that and are using CNC's so I go to the better source.
I use T2Lazer software for my laser. It does have some 3d functions. I will do more research on that - I have communicated with one of the developers so I think he maybe a great source of info.
Any other software out there that is easy to use? I don't know exactly what I will be using it for but I know it will be small stuff
TIA
It really depends on which one your going to get.
If your going with a shapeoko or x-carve they have their own specific control software that you use to draw and cut.
I have used carbide create which is the software for shapeoko. It is really nice and easy to use 2d drawing software and its free. I believe they also have or are planning a pro version that has some more 2.5d to 3D ability.
Both of those machines are based on GRBL which is an arduino based controller, so although their proprietary software works, you aren’t married to it.
You can also use universal g-code sender to send the g-code, but for that you will need something to draw and generate g-code.
I bought a shapeoko used, and downloaded their software, to draw and run that machine.
At the same time, i bought a part of an x-carve and then built it up and built a home made controller to run it.
I continued to use the carbide create to draw and generate g-code (since it generates GRBL g-code)
And used universal g-code sender to send the g-code to the x-carves home made controller.
That’s probably the least costly way to get into CNC.
Since then, i have sold the shapeoko, sold the first x-carve, and bought and built controllers for and then sold 2 more of the x-carves.
I now have a few more machines in the arsenal and have discovered that CNC is a slippery slope.
I have gotten away from the GRBL based stuff and built a Mach3 based controller for a mill and CNC router table, a Centroid Acorn based controller for a 4x4 table, and a UCCNC based controller for a plasma table.
Those require a little more robust programming solution to generate g-code and you are either going to pay for software(read that as high dollar) or use the free for personal use of Fusion 360.
The good news, is that Fusion 360 is free for personal use(although that is always subject to change)
And it has lots of tutorial videos on YouTube that help learn it.
Fusion 360 also has post processors (essentially translators) so it can put out g-code that’s compatible with most g-code senders from GRBL, to Mach3, to UCCNC, to centroid acorn, to fanuc or most any of the commercial machines out there.
Fusion 360 is also able to draw in full 3D, so it requires a bit of computing power, and is more difficult to learn than any of the 2d software.
One last thought,
When I started woodworking my first table saw was a bench top delta, then a Craftsman contractors saw, after that a Unisaw and then onto a Sawstop.
CNC is similar to that,
You can get the belt drive GRBL based router and do lots of good work with them, but they are like the bench top table saw, you will find that eventually your going to want more and have to decide if your budget, and space will support that desire.
Hopefully my rambling helps somewhat.
Also look up Myers woodshop on youtube, he has some really good videos on the shapeoko and its software, as well as comparison between it and the x-carve.
I learned a lot from his videos.
Now is a great time to be getting into CNC since there are so many great videos and the software has matured enough to make it workable at the home shop level.
Good luck
Duke