TurboCAD V10 - Deluxe

[Goober]

[I]In need of Help!!
Recently aquired TurboCAD and am in need of becoming proficient ASAP. I am a complete novice with less than novice know how at this point.

I am also in need of advice from start to finish on using a cnc router table.

If anyone can give some help or direction, you could save my headaches and my girlfriends earache!!
Thanks

[Gandalf]

There is the difference that you have to make to start with. If you don't have the 3 letters cam in the end you will have to get a different package.

As IMSI customer you also have the TurboCad forum at the IMSI site available. It is the best source for it.

[mb0978]

I'm trying to learn it as well. CadCourse.com has some tutorials in the form of movies that have helped me tremendously.

Mike

[Halfnutz]

That is a great resource, the cadcourse movies. Thanks for info.

[Goober]

Thanks Guys
Its like trying to learn brain surgery. No idea hat so ever

[rcazwillis]

Check out this page. They have great tutorials. I was in your same shoes and learned to use the software running through these tutorials. Start with the tutorials for v8 and work you way through the latest.

http://www.textualcreations.ca/

[matth]

Goober, out of interest what type of machine are you going to be running and what do you want to cut??

[Halfnutz]

Goober -

If your starting from scratch and you want to start cutting with your router, I dont suggest trying to learn a Cad program and then trying to figure out how to turn your cad drawings into gcode with a cam program as the best way to start. Eventually that is what you will need to do, but becoming proficient in a CadCam package is not going to happen quickly.

First off start collecting simple gcode clips that are allready written. There are some here as well as within some of the Cam demo packages you can find on line. Get proficient with your controller software first. (Mach2/3 or TurboCNC I would imagine?). Mach has some great wizards built in that allow you to write simple geometry clips of gcode and bolt hole patterns, etc. It has some sample gcode with it as well. TurboCNC has some samples with it also. DeskEngrave is a free software program you can download that will convert several Windows fonts to gcode. Vcarve is another program with a demo version that has some nice signs you can convert to gcode.

While your doing these things start learning a Cad program and a Cam program, or find a package you can afford.

I was in your shoes a year ago, believe me, youve got a lot to learn. Its great! But getting going with a CadCam package will take a while before your cutting. If you start by focussing on MachX and utilizing some stuff allready available, youl be cutting stuff within hours, instead of getting lost in a CadCam program.

What is your hardware/controller and software set up?

[cwdance1]

I just finished my machine a few weeks ago and I have to say that the learning curve for CAD CAM NC is a hard one. I took a CAD class 20 years ago and it was AutoCad. I'm using TurboCad because it is so much cheeper. It took over a week to get the basic functions down for Mach2. My machine has cut its first part out today. My drawing have been a problem for the CAM software to convert. Now I'm re-drawing the parts I want to cut. I have to agree with Halfnutz and find some code to run then work on your own parts. You can leave messages here to get the help you need.

Good luck
Terry

[BlueChip]

Depending on the type of parts you're trying to cut ... take a look at Kipware ... KipwareM for Milling ... KipwareJT for routing ( although it says Waterjet and Plasma ) ... conversational, fill-in-the-blank forms create G code programs.

Info and demos at www.KentechInc.com

[Halfnutz]

It looks nice, very straightforward, for sure, but there are a number of options in the 300-500 dollar price range. Right now I'm working with software thats basically free, or close to it. Its hard, justifying spending a ton of money on a hobby. Ive got so much invested it's insane. But, I love it!

Its taken me a year to figure out how to design and cut simple geometries with next to nothing software combinations.

I really like the Vcarve software, I'm rolling that 500 bucks around in my head right now, but I still need to get Mach X up and running and then paid for. I still use TurboCNC, I think it was only 50 bucks, it runs on anything, its easy to use and it works great.

What really interests me are the libraries of included art that a package comes with. I'd rather be making stuff than designing it.