Newbie- New in engraving... I need your help

[joshuadri]

Hi, Guys

I'm new at the engraving business. I'm starting a small business with my mother in law (trying to help her) and the first thing I need to learn is how to engrave two o three lines of text on a 1 1/2 by 3 inches piece of alluminum plate.

I've been reading from you guys about how to accomplish this. First, I'll get my machine ( CNC Router on my desk) in one more week and I know I have to get Mach3 to run it. The seller sent me a file to place it into Mach3. To me it sound like a pre-made profile, according to what I'm reading, don't believe me. Mach3 allows you to download a version with limited features, but I've been told it does many things in demo mode.

The next thing I'm supposed to get is a program that allows me to create those text lines and save them as certaing kind of file format. I would have to import this file from Mach3 and send it to the engraving machine.
CorelDraw is supposed to be a good sofware to create and properly format the text file to be engraved.
Now... Please, tell me what do I need to know to do this "simple" task?

[Regnar]

You will need 3 things to make and run your machine. Cad, Cam, Controller.

For Cad you could use Corel Draw or any other drawing program, it basically really matters on what Cam will import.

Cam programs can be cheap and free or really really expensive. My biggest suggestion is buy what you need and what you might need in the future. This way you are not buying 5 or 6 different software's.

Now to give some suggestions. Sheetcam, Meshcam, Cut2d, Vcarve, Cut3d.
If all you ever plan on doing is engraving then cut2d and sheetcam will do well for you. One is a little easier to use than the other.

Controllers you have a few options. Other can chime in with the different ones but 2 that I know and have used is Mach3 and Emc2. Mach is free up to 500 lines of code, after that you will have to pay for a liscence. Unless you are going to do stick lines for letters 500 lines doesnt go very far at all. Emc2 is free and what I use. You have to install Ubuntu which is linux and wasn't very hard at all.

For easy cheap and no headaches I would do Cut2d with Emc2. You will not need a cad program.

Eitherway good luck with you search.

[joshuadri]

Originally Posted by Regnar You will need 3 things to make and run your machine. Cad, Cam, Controller. For Cad you could use Corel Draw or any other drawing program, it basically really matters on what Cam will import. Cam programs can be cheap and free or really really expensive. My biggest suggestion is buy what you need and what you might need in the future. This way you are not buying 5 or 6 different software's. Now to give some suggestions. Sheetcam, Meshcam, Cut2d, Vcarve, Cut3d. If all you ever plan on doing is engraving then cut2d and sheetcam will do well for you. One is a little easier to use than the other. Controllers you have a few options. Other can chime in with the different ones but 2 that I know and have used is Mach3 and Emc2. Mach is free up to 500 lines of code, after that you will have to pay for a liscence. Unless you are going to do stick lines for letters 500 lines doesnt go very far at all. Emc2 is free and what I use. You have to install Ubuntu which is linux and wasn't very hard at all. For easy cheap and no headaches I would do Cut2d with Emc2. You will not need a cad program. Eitherway good luck with you search.

Thanks, Regnar
The seller suggested me to use Mach3. At least, to start I feel I should stick to what he says. I don't want to hear any excuse later.
Thanks again for this explanation. Things start getting clearer for me. I will study a bit on your suggestions and I will ask you guys again for help. I'm sure I will run into a lot of questions
But not to worry... I always try to solve problems myself first. You learn a lot in the process. Then, when I'm burned out, I'll look for you
Thanks again.

[escott76]

What kind of machine did you get, do you have a link? Sometimes sellers include a license file for Mach 3 (this could be what you mean by "the seller sent me a file to place into Mach 3"). If this is the case you have a full version of Mach, so there's one thing taken care of. That file would be "Mach1Lic.dat" if it's the license file.
Now you've got a couple of other things to learn. One is how to actually cut the letters. Several different cutters are available, and results will vary with different cutters, and different machine speeds (spindle and feed). You'll want to play around with a couple of different things.
To actually get what you want you'll need to generate G code. As Regnar mentioned there are many different CAM programs that will allow you to do this. Try the free ones, and shop around the others. There are some more 2D/Engraving types out there that are more tailored to what you are doing. Some of them will even allow you to create the text within them.
Get the machine moving first, and get used to Mach (if that's what you wind up going with). Then start to investigate your CAM options.

[joshuadri]

Hi Escott
I don't get a full version of Mach3. I bought this machine at ebay and the seller said I could download Mach3, trial version, from Mach's web site; this version would be limited to 250 lines of G Code (which I don't know what it means yet). The file he sent to me is a xml document called "MachMill". He said I should copy it to the Mach3 folder and it will configure Mach3 to work with this machine. I assume this is a kind of "profile" for Mach3 that I should pick up to work with.
You can see the machine at zenbotcnc.com. It's the 1216 router.
Since I told him I'll be working mostly on engraving aluminum sheets, he sent me this link http://www.mcmaster.com/#8762a33/=22jv0h to get the kind of bit I need to work on aluminum sheets.
I love free programs )))
I tried to download Deskengrave from deskam.com, but there is a problem installing it. I don't know if it is Windows Vista on this pc, but I doesn't happen. I have a dedicated old pc with the beloved XP installed and I will try installing it there to see if the problem is the OS. I want to start playing with something, like you said.
The other thing: Mach3 has a Text Wizard and I need to play around with it too. It may do those two o three lines of text that I need by now.
Since I don't need to have the machine physically connected (don't have it yet... probably on monday, fingers crossed) to run Mach3, I thing I should download the demo version and play with it.
I'll keep you posted, guys.
I love this forum and once again I confirmed the good nature of people when it comes to help someone who needs help. Thanks.
By the way: I have Corel Draw. I'll take a look at that too. I have the idea that I can create a file, format it as a dxf or something like that (sorry) and then have it imported from Mach3, convert it into G Code file and send it to engrave. How to do all these? I don't know... yet. You can see the mist in my words
Thanks again.

[Hans_G]

since you love free software, try the free version of CamBam- http://www.cambam.co.uk/download.html

Version 0.8.2 is free forever. The other versions, CamBam Plus (0.9.xx), have 40 uses before you need to buy it. If you never close the application, you could just keep using it forever in theory.

The engraving tutorial on the cambam website is pretty easy to follow too. I recommend it since it'll give you a good overview of the design (CAD/CAM) process and then you'll have a gcode file to practice with in Mach3.

[DeusExMachina]

Originally Posted by Hans_G since you love free software, try the free version of CamBam- http://www.cambam.co.uk/download.html Version 0.8.2 is free forever. The other versions, CamBam Plus (0.9.xx), have 40 uses before you need to buy it. If you never close the application, you could just keep using it forever in theory. The engraving tutorial on the cambam website is pretty easy to follow too. I recommend it since it'll give you a good overview of the design (CAD/CAM) process and then you'll have a gcode file to practice with in Mach3.

I second CamBam, used the free version for a few weeks before updating to plus, its a bit rough in some spots but it works well and the support for it is top-notch. The developer routinely post on the software's forums and updates the code in the direction that the customers support (including pretty decent 3d support with the latest beta). Cut2d/3d have wonderful interfaces, but I believe the gcode they produce, and their support are not quite as good as CamBam's.

If you want to engrave using CamBam, create the engraving in any program that can save a dxf (including inkscape [though you'll need the better dxf export plug in]) import it, clean up the dxf a bit (move/size/join any duplicate lines) then select the Engrave Machine Operation (MOP), fill out the panel in CamBam and it'll generate the code. The Engrave MOP is limited, for instance you can't do multiple depth passes, but being careful and playing with the program and some simple tricks will allow you to use the free version easily for simple engraving.

You should look in to finding a simulator, NC Plot for example will allow you to view toolpaths, there are other simulators that will let you see the "finished" part after machining operations (Cut2d/3d have a decent simulator built in, and is another great part of the user interface in my opinion.).

[joshuadri]

Hi Guys
I checked into Cambam and I think it's a good way to start. I installed Deskcam in my dedicated PC. It was Vista. It's running smoothly on XP. By the way: for somebody like me, no knoledge about this at all, it was ease to create a line of text, linear or in a arc, modify the fonts, etc. The only problem I found is that it doesn't create more than one line of text. It saves your file as dxf or g code. I don't know how good these files would be.

After reading DeusExMachina's comment, thanks to you and Hans too, I think I can create those two lines in Deskcam, save them as dxf files, import them from Cambam, get them cleaned, copy and paste one line with the other (I guess), save the new file as a G code, do the MOP thing (I'll find out) and VOILA!!!! Nice dream

I have a question: It sound like you cannot "preview" the engraving before I send it to the machine using Cambam. What simulator can I get?

Other question: What is "to fill out the panel in Cambam"?

[joshuadri]

UPDATE:
I installed Mach3. I run a test and the result was good.
I also installed Cambam 0.8.2. There is an option to create text to engrave and I can create as many lines I want. So there's no need for me to create one single line in Kadcam and then another and so on to, finally, make a final dxf file. These lines that I need can be done on Cambam. I cann't wait to have de machine on my desk. Thanks guys

Originally Posted by joshuadri Hi Guys I checked into Cambam and I think it's a good way to start. I installed Deskcam in my dedicated PC. It was Vista. It's running smoothly on XP. By the way: for somebody like me, no knoledge about this at all, it was ease to create a line of text, linear or in a arc, modify the fonts, etc. The only problem I found is that it doesn't create more than one line of text. It saves your file as dxf or g code. I don't know how good these files would be. After reading DeusExMachina's comment, thanks to you and Hans too, I think I can create those two lines in Deskcam, save them as dxf files, import them from Cambam, get them cleaned, copy and paste one line with the other (I guess), save the new file as a G code, do the MOP thing (I'll find out) and VOILA!!!! Nice dream I have a question: It sound like you cannot "preview" the engraving before I send it to the machine using Cambam. What simulator can I get? Other question: What is "to fill out the panel in Cambam"?

[Hans_G]

There's a CamBam plugin called ArcText if you want to put the text on an arc, like what DeskEngrave can do. You can find it in the plugins forum over at the cambam website.

[joshuadri]

Thanks, Hans
What about a Simulator? Do they have any plugin for it that you know of?

Originally Posted by Hans_G There's a CamBam plugin called ArcText if you want to put the text on an arc, like what DeskEngrave can do. You can find it in the plugins forum over at the cambam website.

[joshuadri]

UPDATE 2:
Hi Guys
I received my machine. I tested it with the help of the vendor. Nice guy. Mach3 is configured. It's setup to Inches, which I don't mind, but when is time to set up how deep the bit is going to engrave I don't really know what to say. I think I'll find out with practice. I'm not going deeper than 0.05 inches. I'm open to information, of course
Well... I open Cambam and I had a little problem remembering the tutorial about text engraving. I checked it again and I found out it is not complete. I mean... A the point of creating the G Code, it doesn't tell you exactly what to do. I had to figure it out. The software is not hard to deal with.
So for those who may run into this little problem, this is how: Go to Insert, then select " Text ". On your left, down you will see all the properties of the text file you're creating; find the row for Text and make your own by typing on it (delete what it is there like you would do in a word procesor); hit " Enter" and your new text will appear on the work area.
After this point you'll click on "CAM" from the menu bar and select "Engrave". You'll notice an " x " at the center of the working area.
Then right click on the word " Engrave [1]" at your left and on the " tree area". Select " Create GCode File" from the list of options and VOILA. You'll be given the privilege to name the file the way you want, save it wherever you want and that's it. Now... I was expecting some kind of drop down list to select an extension, but no. All I see is "All Files (*.*). But no problem. It will work.
Go back to Mach3, load the file, send it to "print" ( jeje) and that is it for tonight. My wife is waiting and I don't need a fight at this time and after I accomplished something great

Next stop: how to make a file with some ten or twenty set of three engraving lines of text to engrave on a whole 12x24 engraving alluminum sheet, so I just cut this little plaques to be placed on the trophies.

PD: Sorry about my English. I speak Spanish but I try to operate in English as much as I can. See you guys. Thanks for your support.

Originally Posted by joshuadri Thanks, Hans What about a Simulator? Do they have any plugin for it that you know of?