1st Time CNC user...Hoping

[SpeedsCustom]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a student at N.J.I.T and I have access to resources I never thought I would have. It's very important for me to pretty much do the best in what I want to learn. So guessing from the title of my thread, I'm new to the whole CNC atmosphere.

I have a nice small Taig Mill in my shop ready for CNC. In fact, the CNC is being set up as I write this. I need to finish the wiring, but thats pretty simple.

As a student I have access to people at the Milling Machine Shop who have been pretty helpful considering I was only there once, but also because I have resources. I also design my parts using Pro/Engineer thanks to my school.



I really want to learn G-Code, I have this mind-set that it's almost as easy as 1: Designing A Part in Pro Eng and then transferring the part into another program where it will generate G-Code (Pretty sure PTC already does that. but i can't seem to "KNOW" what I'm doing). If I'm thinking like a normal human here, there are G-code commands that you can put into the lines that say, Start the Process, End It, and do so much more. But for the most part the software of a program generates the Code for tool path. (So the hard part is done)


I really want to learn to CNC as I'm setting a machine thats going to be able to run it.

If anyone can help me with some information about what order programs need too be used. Again, I want to learn but at the same time not in 2 years or something. I want to learn it right but not overnight, practice on the machine.

Also, one last think, I have Pro-Eng and Mach3 download (500line of g-code) is there more to it then that.


-Speed

[ImanCarrot]

Basicaly you design a part using some CAD program. You then pass this saved information to a CAM program. DXF files are commonly used drawing files which a lot of CAD/ CAM progs accept. The Cam program creates the G-Code for the machine when you hit the "Post Processor" button. Different CNC machines use different Post Processors- unfortunately G and M codes are not universal for all machines- some will work on all machines, some on only a dedicated machine, you need the right post processor for your machine. For example, some G Codes will generate errors on one machine or may be ignored totally.

Anyway, after you've transferred the CNC code to the machine (oh, some machines will only accept numbers as filenames- eg 071101) it's a case of dry running the program to make sure nothing bad is going to happen- I use a big felt tip pen as a "tool" and a bit of cardboard as "material" with spindle speed at zero and my hand over the rapid override and E-Stop just in case.

If you want to mess about manualy editing the code you could do worse than NCplot. V1.1 is free and simulates the tool path for you in graphical form. The chap who did this is Scott Martinez who also does an excellent tutorial on macro programming. Mr Martinez was kind enough to give permission for me to post his tutorial on these boards- you can search "Macro" for it if you want to head down that route.

Best of luck- there's no feeling like designing something and watching your machine transform a big hunk of metal into something nice

[SpeedsCustom]

Thank you so much! That was very helpful And that feeling is yet to be felt for me, design and cut...I want it. I need it Great post.

-Jason

[SpeedsCustom]

I know the trial version of Mach3 is only limited to 500 lines. But I can't seem to, after designing a part in Pro Eng and sending it into Cam of mach 3 for G-Code. I'm missing a few steps obviously. I don't know what to do after I designed the part, do I save it differently or what! I'm a little frustrated.

-Speed

[SpeedsCustom]

I'm going to post a picture later on the part I want to make, it's actually a little too complex I think for my first part. But maybe you guys can help me out and I think I'm going to start with a simple rectangular shape with a pocket of some sort, just too see how it works and to start to get a feel. Does that sound more suitable?

So i will post a picture's later and maybe you guys could help me transform the part into G-Code using the Cam i have in Pro Eng.

Thanks,

-Jason

[SpeedsCustom]

Ok, so even I realized that the first part is too complex! I just want to make a simple part, which I did, it's just a square with arc'd edges. I want to convert the part I did in Pro Eng got G-gode, i'm close, as I tapped into some new areas but just not there yet.

Here is picture of my Complex part, can anyone maybe help me in getting this done! Not this part but an easier part (setting it up for g-code using Pro Engs Cam)



-Jason