I know this is not the software forum, but I have received my Solsylva plans and want to get started building it. What I want to know is, how many of you that have built your routers didn't know a thing about the software/cad side of it prior to using yours. Before I build mine, I want to make sure I'm going to be able to use it once completed. I know nothing about cad/cam or g code. I actually thought the CAD would be the simplest part, so I downloaded the evaluation Rhino software to check it out. Now I feel like I may have wasted my money on the plans because this stuff seems very complicated. I don't mind taking some classes at our vocational school locally, but it will be very difficult with my schedule. Is there a simpler way around this, or do just need to hunker down and learn the CAD? Is Rhino CAD overkill for what these routers will do? I'll just be using it as a hobby machine. Thanks in advance.

I know this is not the software forum, but I have received my Solsylva plans and want to get started building it. What I want to know is, how many of you that have built your routers didn't know a thing about the software/cad side of it prior to using yours. Before I build mine, I want to make sure I'm going to be able to use it once completed. I know nothing about cad/cam or g code. I actually thought the CAD would be the simplest part, so I downloaded the evaluation Rhino software to check it out. Now I feel like I may have wasted my money on the plans because this stuff seems very complicated. I don't mind taking some classes at our vocational school locally, but it will be very difficult with my schedule. Is there a simpler way around this, or do just need to hunker down and learn the CAD? Is Rhino CAD overkill for what these routers will do? I'll just be using it as a hobby machine. Thanks in advance.

yes to start with it is an overkill, use free cad programs, then use mach3 with lazy cam, if you want use v-carve and Photocarve. also download inkscape for free photo software to use ti conver to vectors and also adjust pictures.

http://www.machsupport.com/

http://www.vectric.com/

http://www.progecad.com/

http://www.inkscape.org/

this should get you going.

joe

http://www.mr-soft.net/en/scam.html

simplycam

demo saves gcode but not the drawing ,no time limit , every 100th line it adds an
m00 then pulls off , just simple edit needed , price is right

If you are just starting out with g-code you should learn the very basics first. It will help you a lot.

You can write/edit g-code with something as simple as (windows) Notepad, I use it often, but my favorite program for edits is www.ncplot.com , because you can write/edit g-code while it plots, plus you can get the free beta version.

At the same time you can learn a lot by looking at sample g-code files posted all over this site.

G-code is nothing more than a simple text file.

Start with small steps.







.

You need to decide what things you want to draw up in CAD. There are 2D and 3D software out there. No reason to beat your head against the wall if you are just doing 2D. I use Sketch-Up for Cad and it works great and is easy to use. I designed and drew end tables that my wife wanted 2 weeks after downloading it. I learned from watching video tutorials and asking questions from a guy on another forum.

Dwayne

Thanks for the suggestions. As far as what I want to make that would be simple: anything. Really, I'm mostly interested in just building a working router, so I if could make mailbox numbers I'd be happy, and then maybe progressing to signs, etc.

myself try simplycam, I have this Nc file in attachment.

can someone engrave this just to see how will look like.

myself try simplycam, I have this Nc file in attachment.

can someone engrave this just to see how will look like.

not sure what the design is supposed to be , it looks ok except you need to edit out the z moves at the m0

this is the key with the demo , every 100 lines it adds a m0 and a z retract so it is simple to know where your edits are , you will need to do a small tweak at those lines
download nc plot and you can test and edit your codes
http://www.ncplot.com/