AutoCad/CNC Newbie

[fvapres]

I know a little bit about making lines and rectangles and such in autocad (R14 for version info). I am just looking to know how to make the 3D parts for CAD/CAM applications. Here is the way I think it is done, but looking for confirmation.

-Lets say I have a rectangle with a cutout in the middle of it. Using the REGION tool, make regions out of the outer and inner rectangles.
-I then use the Boolean to subtract the area of the inner rectangle from the outer one.
-I save, export to DXF and load it into my CAM program (thinking of TurboCNC - free and I don't have much $$$ to go on software - already had AutoCad R14 from High School Shop Design Class)


That about right or do I have to use thickness (played with and can't seem to make a region out of the lines I make if the thickness of the drawing is other than 0).

[ger21]

TurboCNC is not a CAM program. It only accepts g-code.


There are 2 ways to do it.

1) That's really not considered a 3D part, so you can do it in 2D. Just draw the toolpath for the cutout, save as .dxf (v12) and use ACE converter to write the g-code. http://www.dakeng.com

2) After subtracting your region, use the extrude command to make it the desired thickness. Don't use thicknes, you'll need an actual solid for this. Export as .stl, and use a CAM program like MeshCAM to write the g-code. http://www.grzsoftware.com

The first way will give better finished results, and cut at least 10 times faster.

[fvapres]

I see... found a program called CNCSimulator that will show me what the results will look like when tooled with a simulated CNC machine.

It showed me the G-Code is actually based on the lines (exploded) and the Z depth of the drill is controlled by the negative/positive value of the line points.

As it stands, here is the process...

1. Make CAD drawing, explode any conjoined regions and lines
2. Export to DXF
3. Use ACE Converter to get G-Code file
4. Use CNCSimulator or Save to floppy disk and load TurboCNC

Thanks for the help so quickly.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by fvapres and the Z depth of the drill is controlled by the negative/positive value of the line points.

You can leave all the depths at Z= 0 in AutoCAD, and set the depths in ACE. Just double click on the layer name in ACE.