CNC Software

[rob4624]

Hey everybody,

My name is Rob, and I'm a high school senior in Massachusetts. We have a decent sized machine shop for a public school, but I'm looking to update it with some newer, home brewed technology. I just started looking into making my own CNC machine for small-scale projects. After some researching I feel I'll be ready to take on the building aspect of the project, but I was wondering what software/ programming languages people use on their home-built machines. I have been designing in Solidworks on the computer, and it would be great if I could find a program that would take an exported file from solidworks and send it to the CNC. If anyone has any ideas for me I would be very thankful.

-Rob

[ger21]

If your talking about 3D parts, www.meshcam.com will take an .stl file

[rob4624]

thanks, thats the type of software I was looking for.

However, I'm under the impression that after a program like MeshCam creates a "toolpath," I'll need another program or controller that will process this toolpath and send it to the servos or stepper motors. Are there processors or programs out there to do so, or will I have to create my own based on what I use to control the rails?

Thanks again,
Rob

[ger21]

Check out Mach3 at www.artofcnc.ca You can install it in simulation mode. At the end of the install, you'll see a checkbox that says "install driver" UNCHECK the box and you can run g-code through it and do simulations, but it's limited to 1000 lines of code until you pay for it.

[rob4624]

Looks good, thanks again.

[davidmb]

Have a look at EMC, if you know unix it's a free CNC control package, look at [http://www.linuxcnc.org/] written by NIST, handles upto 6 axis. I've been using EMC for a couple of years now for hobby use.

[High Seas]

Stlwork - takes the .stl file and generates toolpoths - also does slab and waterline cuts - not expensive - I am not associated with IMserv - just like the product.
Jim
No underage drinking