Newbie- Cam Software

[krak]

I use Alibre Design. They now offer a cam product that works hand in hand with it. Many of you already know this. However it is not clear to me if I can use with a homemade CNC machine. They have sent me a list of “Posts” ( a new term for me) of about 60 machines that can be used. And they will create a custom “Post” for about $300. I will post the list in a new thread named “Alibre Cam Post list” does anyone know if one of these “Posts” will work for a homemade CNC?

http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106343

[harley4ever]

The homeade CNC doesnt mean anything. I know nothing about Alibre as I use Dolphin cad cam. I myself have a few machines, a few home made and use Mach 3 with them. Many posts are similar, some might need to be tweaked to your preference.

[jsheerin]

Why didn't you put the list in this thread so all information is together? Regardless, you listed a Mach3 post and that is a common machine controller used by DIY machine builders, so yes, it should work fine if you use Mach3 (or any other controller listed). Commercial machines are just machines built by a company where as diyer's build their own machine. The only difference in regards to this issue is what control software they use.

A 'post' is a post processor. It is a part of the cam program that converts the calculated movements of the tool into g-code that your machine controller can understand. Different controllers have slight differences in how they interpret g-code, and thus the need for different post processors.

[krak]

I wanted to create two treads to allow the list to pop up in a search with having to bring up this thread on top of it. What that said I might go back and make a link to the list thread. Anyway, both of the replies answered my question. So thank you. Now I know why it is called a “post”. It makes perfect sense now.

[louieatienza]

Originally Posted by krak I use Alibre Design. They now offer a cam product that works hand in hand with it. Many of you already know this. However it is not clear to me if I can use with a homemade CNC machine. They have sent me a list of “Posts” ( a new term for me) of about 60 machines that can be used. And they will create a custom “Post” for about $300. I will post the list in a new thread named “Alibre Cam Post list” does anyone know if one of these “Posts” will work for a homemade CNC? http://cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106343

Alibre's CAM software is actually written by MecSoft, of VisualMill fame. If I'm not mistaken they have a Mach3 psot...

[dertsap]

most fanuc posts work fine with mach