New to the hobby, What software do I need?

[mgandy02]

This is going to be my first CNC router build and I want to get the basics first.

What software am I going to need? From what I can gather I need something for machine control ( Mach3 ) and Autocad. Will this get me far enough using the lazycam feature in Mach3 or do I also need Rhino, Visual Mill, etc....

Thanks for any feedback

[sdantonio]

You need at least a cad system to design the part, a cam system to generate machine tool paths and generate g code. you need a machine controller to read the g code and move the machine.

There has been an ongoing, sometimes spirited discussion in the vista thread. I'm rapidly becoming a big fan of Linux as an operating system. this list will get you most of what you need for free

http://www.tech-edv.co.at/lunix/CADlinks.html

http://www.linux.org/apps/all/Graphi...Modelling.html

http://www.linuxcnc.org/

Also on the Microsoft side of things I would definitely check out 10Bulls cambam software (combined 3D cad/cam) which is also free (do a search for it here, he has written many posts here and it should be easy to find. If you work in the microsoft OS then cambam and Mach3 would be a great combination. Of to save you some money (completely free in fact), cambam and EMC2 (linuxcnc.org) would also be a great combination and should get you 99% of the way there (OK, mat be 100% there), if you do your design on one computer and run your CNC with a seperate one.

AutoCAD is great for 2-1/2D stuff, but it doesn't seem to do 3D to easily (I have been told that 3D has been incorporated into 2007).

For doing surfaced and most 3D stuff Rhino can't be beat, but then your getting into the $550 range now and you'll still need a CAM. For any 3D app Solidworks is like the Roles Royce of the drafting world. And like a Roles Royce, expect to take out a second mortgage. MasterCAM is also excellent for both 3D design and it has a built in CAM (though the cad part is not up to Solidworks or Rhino), again this one will cost you a small bundle. BobCAD/CAM is also popular here. Never used it so I can't comment first hand on it, but I hear more people swearing by it rather than swearing at it.

So, this throws a hole lot of names your way and a few sites for you to investigate. Have fun. Investigate things carefully. The last thing you want to do is buy something very expensive because it has a cool name and comes in a colorful box and then find out it doesn't do what you want (don't ask me how I know this ).

[sdantonio]

http://www.linux.org/apps/all/Graphi...Modelling.html

One of those links didnt work when I checked it out, try this one.

Oh yeah, linux operating systems. Some folks here like Ubuntu linux, they are very easy to use and set up and looks like a really good system. Cownload their live CD first and give it a whirl. Me, personally, being a physicist and the type that is attracted to fancy names and brightly colored boxes I would download Scientific Linux Fermi (do a search for fermi national accelerator lab or femi linux). It's free (which beats the $100 or so you have to pay for winXP. SLF is free and is Fermilabs own compilation or Red Hat Enterprise Server (which Red Hat sells for $175). But try the ubuntu first.

[ger21]

You need something to run the machine. There are a lot of options, from Mach3 on Xp or Win2K, EMC on Linux, or TurboCNC on DOS. There are several others. Mach3 is hands down the most popular.

What CAD and CAM software you need depends on what you want to make. If you're cutting parts from flat boards or sheets, it's possible that LazyCAM will be enough. It's definately enough to start learning with, and it's free. A more advanced version called LazyCAM Pro ( I think) will soon be available for about $75 with a lot more power than the free version that's included with Mach3. Just about any inexpensive CAD program should work fine with LazyCAM. @ good onexpensive ones are DesignCAD and TurboCAD, both available at www.imsisoft.com You can get slightly older versions from Ebay for usually $30 or less. Another inexpensive 2D CAM program is SheetCAM. www.sheetcam.com

If you want to get into complex 3D carving, then Rhino might be an option, but there are many other 3D CAD modelling software, at many price points, from free ( http://www.moi3d.com ) to inexpensive ( www.nevercenter.com) to mid range (Rhino) to very expensive. All have different capbilities. Use what works best for what you want to do. There is no single package that is right for everyone.

Two good inexpensive 3D CAM programs, are MeshCAM and Cut3D. www.meshcam.com and http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectr.../c3d_index.htm

Either of these will do a lot of what Visual Mill can do for a LOT less money. Some people, however, need the other features that software like Visual Mill have to offer. Again, use what works best for what you want to do.

Learn how everything works, download and use demos, and make an educated decision. Don't let someone else tell you what you should buy. You should buy what works best for you.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by sdantonio AutoCAD is great for 2-1/2D stuff, but it doesn't seem to do 3D to easily

Steve, I think we've been over this before, but I'll bring it up again. AutoCAD has done 3D for many, many years. It did 3D solid and mesh modeling before Rhino even existed. And for AutoCAD users, it's actually very easy to use. I have several 3D programs that I use. but most of the time, AutoCAD is the easiest and fastest. (using it every day does help a little)

[sdantonio]

Gerry,

I thought it was you who originally told me that AutoCAD wouldn't fit my needs when I started doing 3D work with some fairly finely detailed surfaces. And I was told that they only do 3D as wireframe, not as lofted surfaces like Rhino or Solidworks. Sorry for the misunderstanding.