Looking for software

[Don Peterson]

Well, here's a "newbie" question...

It appears from all that I've read, that I really need two pieces of software. I obviously need the software that runs the steppers on my hardware (At the moment TurboCNC), and it looks like I will also need something to design my parts with.

Most of what I will be making is really just two dimensional. Things like flat gears, panels of various shapes and sizes, etc. On the rare occassion, maybe a "two level" part (reduction gear).

Is it possible to have any very basic design capabilites just using the software that drives the steppers? Say if I just wanted to cut out a round circle, or a square from a piece of flat stock. Is that possible with any of the stepper programs that are out there today? Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should look at? I'd consider paying more for the stepper software, if I didn't have to buy and learn "Auto-Cad".

Thanks...

Don

[CJL5585]

You don't have to buy Autocad. Do a search for A9CAD. It is a shareware version of Autocad which you can try out for free. It is a basic program which will allow you to draw lines, arcs, circles, etc.

This software will output dxf file formats which can be used as the input to a g-code generator program. I recommend ACE which can be downloaded from the Artsoft Software homepage. They are an advertiser on this site and sell Mach 3 software. ACE is free.

So far in this post, you have not spent any money, and with TurboCNC, you will be able to design something - save the design as a .dxf file - input this file into ACE - save file - run this file in TurboCNC and create the object that you designed. The only thing you will have to do is to MANUALLY set the depth of cuts in the g-code file. However, if you purchase SHEETCAM (advertiser on this site), you will be able to input the .dxf file directly, set all cutting parameters in Sheetcam, set depth of cuts, tools, etc., and Sheetcam will generate the g-code directly. It will also give you a 2 1/2 D VIEW of your design.

Hope this helps get you started.
Jerry

[ShayArnett]

You could also look at Mach3 to drive the machine, and also the newfangled wizards for Mach for simple designing inside mach3. The only thing I don't see in its list of features is gears, but if I remember correctly the newfangled guys had that on their list. Under $200 for the package. You can also import some dxf's directly into Mach3 for anything you might not be able to do with the wizards.

[Don Peterson]

Sounds like the answer to my question. I will check these out. Thanks...

Don

[CJL5585]

If you purchase Mach 3, look closely at the computer requirements. If your computer is not one of the later models, you might have to purchase a different computer to run Mach 3.

[ger21]

You can download and try it (Mach3), it's free if you're running less than 1000 lines of g-code.

[jcc3inc]

Sir,

Well, here's a possibility: why not try to write the G code yourself to start. It will force you to learn about the G code and for simple items like you describe, doing a program is not that difficult!

Regards,
Jack C.

[Don Peterson]

Originally Posted by jcc3inc Sir, Well, here's a possibility: why not try to write the G code yourself to start. It will force you to learn about the G code and for simple items like you describe, doing a program is not that difficult! Regards, Jack C.

That is a great idea! I am a firm believer that before you start relying on a "tool", one must understand what it is that the "tool" is doing for you.

If you happen to know of a source of this information, please share it with me. Right now, I'm off to do a google-search.

Don

[Don Peterson]

After "googling", I have found what appears to be a basic tutorial at:

http://www.linuxcnc.org/handbook/gcode/g-code.html

It's about 11 pages and I'll start with this.

Also, my impression of what I have seen is that not all "G-Code" is the same. I found referrences to syntax differences and some unique functions that not all machines (software) will recognize. This always makes life interresting...

Thanks

Don

[ger21]

Originally Posted by Don Peterson Also, my impression of what I have seen is that not all "G-Code" is the same. I found referrences to syntax differences and some unique functions that not all machines (software) will recognize. This always makes life interresting... Thanks Don

The basic stuff should be pretty much the same.
G0
G1
G2
G3
This will do 95-98% of your needs, most likely.

[Bubba]

Don,
The documentation for TurboCnc has a pretty good explination of the codes and also the codes that are acceptable to it.

Its in the doc file that you downloaded origionally.