Machine won't cut out my part!

[LeeWay]

Check out SheetCam. I don't think you can go wrong with it. There are some other options that I haven't tried. CamBam, Lazy Cam and a few others at low or no cost. Perhaps someone will add more programs for you to check out.

[SpeedsCustom]

What about the Vectric 3d cut? http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectr...d_features.htm

Is this something that I might be looking for?


-Speed

[under-dog]

I can only vouch for the two I have mentioned as they are all I have used.
I know there are cheaper out there.

Check this guys site out it his "story of a guy starting into CNC". He tried all the demos out there it seems and gives his reviews. Keep in mind they are a few years old and one man's opinion but he breaks it down none the less.


3D contouring still has its place just not for the type of parts you have shown.

I use MeshCam as I said to do more sculptural parts like lets say a face or a model of corvette or something like that.

But for flat faced parts that are basically just cut out and maybe have some recesses in them go for 2.5D


I chose deskCNC because it will do 2.5D plus 3D plus 4th axis rotary so it seemed to be some good bang for the buck. I also chose MeshCAM though because they offered more advanced 3D tools plus flip and index milling. So between the two I have a reasonable arsenal of tools for a variety of project types, for @ $350 at the time I bought them.

[SpeedsCustom]

Ok, so meshcam is still used for more 3-d objects, cool, great.

I have just become so use too the Meshcam is hard for me to go too a program like Sheetcam and learn how too use it.


Here is my main goal, I want too just be able to cut out my simple part without all the back forth stuff.

Cut the stock too height and then just cut it out. It seems very simple.

Just help me guys out, which you have been doing and I am very grateful.


-Speed

[LeeWay]

I use SheetCam for these type things. Just email Les and he will send you an evaluation license. It is pretty simple to learn. It is one of the parts I use in my blade guard product. The drawing is a simple 2D DXF. I use layers for each different part. I use Turbocad for that. I open the drawing in Sheetcam. Sheetcam gives the options like drilling, pocketing, inside or outside contour cutting, profiling and engraving. This part is done with just a mill drill. (pointed endmill)



Here is an older video of my machine before I rebuilt it cutting one of these parts. All done with Turbocad, Sheetcam and then Mach 3.

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG7j_u5Ffgs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG7j_u5Ffgs

[under-dog]

What about the Vectric 3d cut? http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectr...d_features.htm

Is this something that I might be looking for?


-Speed

The vcarve software that is there I have heard alot of ppl talk about. It seems to be alot of ppl who are engraving, making signs etc. Never used it cant truly comment. It seems to be a contouring and "maybe" pocketing program. They say it is 2D (not 2.5D)so I am not sure how far it actually goes. From what I can tell though it is strictly 2D and does only engraving using a pointed cutter.

The cut 3D software looks like something similar to meshcam


The photo carve I think mescam has an option to do that sort of thing as well.

[Tony Mac]

Hi again,

Cut3D does 3D machining in the same way as Mesh-cam but looking at your parts and I would suggest that they are more easily and quickly machined using 2D / 2.5D toolpaths.

See > http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectr.../c3d_index.htm

3D projects from Cut3D can also be combined > imported into VCarve Pro to alloe conventional 2D / 2.5D engraving, pocketing, drilling can be added.

A Free Trial version of this software available from the web site,

See > http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectr...s/download.htm

*******************************************************

I hope this helps,

Tony

[ger21]

The vcarve software that is there I have heard alot of ppl talk about. ............................ It seems to be a contouring and "maybe" pocketing program. They say it is 2D (not 2.5D)so I am not sure how far it actually goes. From what I can tell though it is strictly 2D and does only engraving using a pointed cutter.

VCarve Pro is a full featured 2.5D CAM package as well as a V carving package. Has pocketing, contouring, drilling, ramping, leadin/leadout, tabs.... Download the trial and try it.

[Switcher]

I did this a while back, just messing around to see what Vcarve could do.

This screenshot started from a JPEG image I found on the net, from the link you can see how blurry that JPEG is, a cleaner image would have resulted in a cleaner looking file in Vcarve.

.

[Switcher]

This took about 15 min. (I'm slow).

Everything was done inside Vcarve Trial Edition.

Thought you might like that second screenshot.

.

[SpeedsCustom]

Wow, thanks so much for posting switcher. I like the touch of the SpeedsCustom, I planned on doing that!

What I like about the Vectric line is that like Meshcam is very simple too use, It's well done and made nicely. I'm going too download the trial version for Vcarve pro and like you guys mentioned with it's 2.5 design capabilities how could I go wrong?....


Thank you for posting, updates too come.


-Speed

[SpeedsCustom]

How did you extrude the part? Also, I tried saving my pro Eng parts as EPS and when I imported it, it said Failed, Probably contains only bitman data...Why?

I'm trying too make the part, but I can't get half circles and too extrude.

-Jason