new to cnc need advice

[extremecanvas]

Hello All: First post and I am looking to get into cnc. I am a freelance artist and do alot of signs , murals, etc. Not much I don't do. ANyway, I was looking at a dynacnc 4x8. Anyone know anything on their machines. I'm trying to stay in the 15 range for the machine. I was also thinking of going ahead and getting artcam pro. Any advice. I do have alot more questions,
later.
thanks
extremecanvas

[Torchhead]

Before you spend the $$$$$ on ArtCam take a look at VCarve. The DynaCNC uses the popular MACH3 control system and it is compatable with both Sheetcam (2 & 2.5D) and Vcarve for signage.

I cut mostly decorative steel but also have a wood router, engraver and vinyl cutter. I use CorelDraw for the master artwork for all of our work in different media.

Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com
www.FourhillsDesigns.com

[dertsap]

artcam is a powerfull software ,you'll get what youve paid for if your doing slick work , mach is compatible with ANY software that posts gcode as does any cnc that reads gcode !! gcode is gcode , other than optional codes it s all the same stuff

may be worth looking at bobcad with bobart , apparently you work out a deal with them to get the software much cheaper

[Torchhead]

It's hard to do enough slick work to justify $7500.00 for ArtCAM, especially if your budget is 15K.

G-code is not g-code. Each controller has a specific g-code dialect and needs to have a Post processor in the CAM to match up. Only the basic G00, G01, G02, G04 and few other commands are "standard". Most machines understand the basic G-code commands but extended commands are specific to that machine. The "Generic G-code" post in ArtCAM will work with MACH and BobCAD has a MACH post.

[dertsap]

gcode is gcode other than optional codes which yes are specific to certain machines as i posted earlier
overall most gcode from 0 to 99 is standard http://www.machinetoolhelp.com/Appli...G-M-codes.html

, mach is a basic gcode interpreter which means it would use general basic code which most all cad/cam will generate ,
depending on a guys budget and projection, i firmly beleave you get what you pay for , i have had the benefit of working with artcam and it is a very powerfull piece of software ,
i beleave you should do some serious research as to what software will best suit your purposes before you purchase , more or less all we can offer are our own personal opinions