Turning CAM

[fragger6662000]

Hi

I have just converted my 7x12 machine and wondering if there was any good turning low cost cam programs. i mainly used sheet cam for milling and have frigged it to output turning programs but it require a lot of alterations. Replacing y to x and z to x and ijk values. thanks matt

[blades]

Seems to me the 3 main programs I've heard mentioned here are Mach, TurboCNC, and EMC (Linux based). I've played around with Mach, and it was very easy to configure my 7x10 (controlled by a G540). I'm currently playing around with TurboCNC, but having a bit of difficulty getting it configured properly. Not quite as intuitive as Mach. People who use EMC seem to be pretty happy with it, if you have a Linux box or at least a Linux partition. I believe you can also run it from a bootable CD to try out. I'm sure those who know will chime in here very soon.

[ninefinger]

If I understand right your looking for CAM software to generate tool paths? If you have sheetcam already can't you just orient your part so that x lines up with x and y with z? Then all you need to do is convert y to z in the final output (using a text editor find and replace function). Why do you need to make i j k values? What kind of output do you get from sheetcam? I'm not a user of sheetcam but I would think you could modify the post processor to work...can you make 2 different post processors - one for the lathe and one for milling?

[harley4ever]

Dolphin cad cam lathe is an excellent program. I have used their milling module for a few years but only the lathe for the past year or so. Give it a look.

[fragger6662000]

ijk are used for g2 and g3 moves

[sansbury]

Blades, I think you're confusing controllers with CAM apps. Though, Mach and EMC both have "wizards" for generating simple programs, so there is some overlap. I chose EMC for my lathe in part because I think the lathe support is just plain better. I set it up with the ngcgui plugin for Axis which provides something close to a conversational control experience.

See: LinuxCNC.org - Subroutine GUI - EMC Support Forum

In terms of full CAM, there are a lot less options for true lathe CAM than milling. I had BobCAD-CAM already so added their lathe module when one of their reps called me about a sale. I paid very little for it. I believe Dolphin also has a lathe module, and their reputation is very good. Both can probably be had for under $500 if you're a hobbyist.

That said, with the turning wizards I have set up with EMC, I am not sure I'll be using the BobCAD module much if ever. If all you're doing is facing, turn a diameter or two, put a thread on, and part off, then you can probably get by without CAM.

[fragger6662000]

i am thinking that you are right, the wizards can get you close enough in the shortest time.

[blades]

Blades, I think you're confusing controllers with CAM apps.

You are most correct sansbury, I did indeed confuse the 2.

EMC is sounding pretty interesting, and I left a vacant 2gb partition on my HD specifically so I could install Ubuntu on it.

[Regnar]

Another solution rather than using a text editor to change the axis's is to make a new profile in Mach or Emc and just change the motor locations. X is now Z and Y is now X. Seems simple enough.