Using ProDESKTOP on homemade CNC router?

[jonbrown34]

I'm hoping to build a CNC router this summer. I use ProDESKTOP in the school I teach at and I was wondering what would I need in order to use ProDESKTOP with the machine that I build. I'm hoping to design and build from scratch using salvaged parts, say from old printers and freeware software [except ProDESKTOP]. It will only be cutting blue styrofoam.
Any advise is most appreciated.

[cbass]

Hi,

I've been using pro/d express for several years and LOVE it Simply the easiest to use software if come across.

Anyways, to answer your question, you will need two kinds of programs to make chips fly.

You can use pro/d to design your parts. Then you'll need to import these into a CAM program (most CAM programs will accept .stl, .step or .iges, all of which prodesktop outputs). The CAM software will allow you to create toolpaths that are specific to your tooling , machine, and preferences. Once you've created the toolpaths, they will be outputted (post-processed) as G-code. This code is sent to the controller that controlls your motors. Different controllers need different variations of g-code. Most good CAM programs come with a library of controllers that they will support. When choosing what controller you will buy for your machine, try selecting one that uses a common language (i.e. fanuc is very popular for this reason). If you use a controller that isn't popular, some CAM programs will allow you to custom make yoiur own post. I've done this for a HASS mill and its easier than it sounds (at least with Visual Mill 5). There are several CAM programs out there. I'm using Visual Mill 5 ($5000). "One-cnc" is also regarded as affordable ($1000) and easy to use. Try doing searches on here for both or just for CAM in general. There may also be freeware/shareware CAM out there but you get what you pay for.

The other piece of the puzzle is the controll software. I'm a bit less clear here as I don't have my own machine yet. In basic terms, the controll software feeds the g-code to your controller in real time. It allows you to overide some of the settings in the g-code like feed speed and spindle rpm. It also shows you where you are while cutting in relation to the overall part. Mach 2 is pretty much the standard here, though there are a few others. I'll probably end up using it as it only costs $150 and its considered a very good program.

I hope this answers some of your questions.

Carlo

[jonbrown34]

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated
John

[ger21]

You might want to look at MeshCAM, http://www.grzsoftware.com $150

If ProDesktop can output 2D .dxf files, take a look at SheetCAM as well. http://www.sheetcam.com

[cbass]

Originally Posted by ger21 You might want to look at MeshCAM, http://www.grzsoftware.com $150 If ProDesktop can output 2D .dxf files, take a look at SheetCAM as well. http://www.sheetcam.com

Hey Ger, .dxf files are 2-d files. This means they will only help if he wants to cut out silhouettes. For true 3-d work, he'll need a CAM program that accepts a 3-d format like .stl, .iges, .step etc., correct?

Carlo

[ger21]

Originally Posted by cbass Hey Ger, .dxf files are 2-d files. This means they will only help if he wants to cut out silhouettes. For true 3-d work, he'll need a CAM program that accepts a 3-d format like .stl, .iges, .step etc., correct? Carlo

.dxf files can be 3D as well, and even have solids models in them. A .dxf can contain just about anything that an AutoCAD can have. What do you mean by true 3D work? With SheetCAM you can do pocketing, holes, tool offsets..., all from a 2D .dxf file. It all depends on the type of parts he wants to make.

[cbass]

Originally Posted by ger21 What do you mean by true 3D work? With SheetCAM you can do pocketing, holes, tool offsets..., all from a 2D .dxf file. It all depends on the type of parts he wants to make.

By true 3-d, I mean using a file that contained the Z coordinates of the part (as opposed to just X and Y). Of course he can manually create offsets from a 2-d file (i.e. pocketing, holes, tool offsets) and he can contour a 2-d design but he won't be able to create toolpaths for the z axis of the original part if there is no Z in the .dxf file. This may be a problem if he has curved features in the Z axis for example.

I don't think pro/d can export a 3-d model as a .dxf. .Dxf is only available for export in pro/d when in 2-d drawing mode. When I open the .dxf file in VM5 (or even Illustrator for that matter), it opens as a 2-d drawing. For this reason I assumed that .dxf only contained 2-d info. Researching .dxf files a bit more on the web, many sources claim that .dxf files do, in fact, contain 3-d content. So either 3-d isn't supported in pro/d's export or Visual mill doesn't support this in its import.

What am I missing here?

[ger21]

As long as you don't have parts with surfaces that vary in height (Z), you only need a 2D drawing. In Visual Mill, choose one of the 2 1/2D milling options, and it will have a tab for cutting depths to assign to the 2D paths.

[moyesboy2]

Prodesktop only does 2D dxf from the 2D drawing file, not 3D dxf from the model. If you use the dxf check the drawing sheet scale as it effects the size of the dxf output!