Originally Posted by CNV  Thanks for the replies guys. I've been doing a lot of reading but I'm ending up with more new questions than answers! I decided that I should pick up a Taig CNC-ready mill and add handcranks to start for now. I hope that would be a good start for me learn with and to get the hang of things like the toolings, mounting, etc. I'm a contractor and am pretty handy with woodworking so I hope it won't be too hard for me to learn the ropes.
I appreciate the warnings and have been trying to scare myself out of it but I don't think it is going to happen. I'm determined! I also don't plan to get into any kind of production and want to keep it as one of my many expensive hobbies.
I'm still clueless with what programs are needed. I have easy access to Autocad and Solidwork. So what type of programs are needed and what does what?
Thanks for the link Zipsnipe. First link was a little basic and had information I already new, but I'm watching the videos from the second. Thanks again.
Longrat,
Car looks awesome! Have you considered making a gasoline powered car? A 4WD truck would be sweet with a lots of delrin parts to keep the weight down. That would be my ultimate goal down the line, but for now I just want to make some simple small parts for my rock crawlers.
Any book recommendations? Something that gets into the details but also has the basics. |
If you have a computer, you can install Mach3 or use the EMC2 bootable disk and trial the programs without a machine attached. This is a good way to see which control program you like. Both of these are machine control programs.
Autocad is a program that you will draw the parts in. I am not familiar with solidworks at all. You will need a program to get from drawing to Gcode. Gcode is what Mach3 and EMC2 use to cut parts. I am not sure if either of the programs that you have access to will do this, someone else will step in and let you know.
I am not sure if this is an appropriate place but if you can wait a week or 2 I will be selling my Taig, ready to run cnc mill. PM me and we can talk. Include your phone and I will call you on my dime as I am the seller.
Mike