CNC…. A Cry For Help!

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sneakout

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What software are you using to draw then generate your G code? I did read Joey’s post dated Oct 2004 “ How do you draw?” . I hope there is updated info out there. I’ll share with you what does not work well… I used Corel Draw 11 to draw the outline and saved as a DFX file (autocad R13). I used Corel Draw because it is easy to convert a picture to a vector line drawing. Then I imported the DXF file into BobCad V20. Selected pocketing and had it generate the pocket tool path. (I have had some trouble with spiral versus horizontal cutting methods- still trying to figure that out) I can not get bobcad to generate the G code directly. The button is greyed-out. My mill is controlled by Mach 3 but Lazy cam seems to have problems so I used MACH 2 to generate the g code. Used a freeware editing program to clean up the code (rewrite it!). Then ran it on Mach 3.

Anybody have a method out there that works?? I am willing to try different programs or / and listen to advice on how to get my programs to work. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance to all,
Sneak Out
 
G-code

I've used BobCAD V19 to generate G-code and it's pretty straight forward. What button exactly is greyed out?
 
I am using BobCad ver.17. You can draw and generate G-code with the same program by using the NC-CAM function.
 
Autocad 2004 to draw and a program called Striker to generate the G codes. This is for a wire EDM only.
Only a real bad ass can make a cue with nothing but an EDM machine. :D :D :D
 
JoeyInCali said:
Anybody use Mastercam?
Click to expand...

Yes, Thomas Wayne does. He claimed that it is the best program available for inlaying cues. About 7 or 8 years ago Thomas tried to get Master Cam to make an abreiviated version for cuemakers but they refused. The 35,000.00 price tag is a bit daunting although you can aguire ripped off copies.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
Yes, Thomas Wayne does. He claimed that it is the best program available for inlaying cues. About 7 or 8 years ago Thomas tried to get Master Cam to make an abreiviated version for cuemakers but they refused. The 35,000.00 price tag is a bit daunting although you can aguire ripped off copies.

Dick
Click to expand...
I know a local maker who dumped Bobcad for Mastercam.
He said Mastercam is just more accurate.
 
> Blud's son Donald told me he uses Virtual GibbsCam,but that program is quite pricey,and requires a screaming computer to run it,like a Dual Opteron with a 256mb video card and 2Gb Ram. Tommy D.
 
lose the Corell...

sneakout said:
What software are you using to draw then generate your G code? I did read Joey’s post dated Oct 2004 “ How do you draw?” . I hope there is updated info out there. I’ll share with you what does not work well… I used Corel Draw 11 to draw the outline and saved as a DFX file (autocad R13). I used Corel Draw because it is easy to convert a picture to a vector line drawing. Then I imported the DXF file into BobCad V20. Selected pocketing and had it generate the pocket tool path. (I have had some trouble with spiral versus horizontal cutting methods- still trying to figure that out) I can not get bobcad to generate the G code directly. The button is greyed-out. My mill is controlled by Mach 3 but Lazy cam seems to have problems so I used MACH 2 to generate the g code. Used a freeware editing program to clean up the code (rewrite it!). Then ran it on Mach 3.

Anybody have a method out there that works?? I am willing to try different programs or / and listen to advice on how to get my programs to work. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance to all,
Sneak Out
Click to expand...


I learned this the hard way a dozen or so years ago while trying to help a friend. Bottom line: CNC setups, in general, like the blueprint type
drawings you can make with any number of CAD programs. For standard inlays, any CAD-type drawing package should work fine. IIRC even TurboCAD will output a .dxf file

Doesn't Mach have a drawing prgm with it??

For more artsy pictorial stuff, you may have to scan a pic onto the CAD

ps my experince has been that importing .dxf files is prone to
Major headaches

HTH
Dale Pierce
 
G codes

I use Mastercam 9 to generate g codes. Its really the "tits". It also will produce g codes for true 4th axis machining. Depending on some of the parameters, I sometimes draw in Autocad 2000 and import into Mastercam using Mastercam's autodesk converter. But, usualy I draw in Mastercam. I use Mach3 to run the CNC. Overall, a great setup of softwares and machine.
 
CNC Software

I've got a couple of versions of BobCAD but I've only used them briefly. I purchased a CadCAM program from "Servo" in California that works much, much better for me. it contains several "utilities" that enable you to efficiently import different types of drawings, formats, etc. It's a lot easier to use than any of the other programs I've tried out, and that's been quite a few. It has all the functions needed for cuemaking and they're not burried along with all the "bells and whistles" of the high end programs, that are never used in cuemaking. It's called "FastPath" or "WCAM" . With it (and a few tricks I've learned over the last 12 years of self teaching myself) I can do everything including "4th Axis Engraving". I can scan a picture in, convert it to a line drawing, and wrap the picture around a cue. When I was perfecting the technique, for grins, I made a purple heart cue with 9 Corvettes wrapped around the butt.
The ONLY advantage I see to BobCAD is an add on optional program for nesting, which carries a $1000 price tag and only works with their newly released latest version.
I still use an old Ah-Ha controller which works just fine, but the manufacturer has since closed up shop, so if it ever gives up the ghost, I'll probably go with a Mach controller.


Just more hot air!

Sherm
 
Sherm, sent you a PM

Sherm,

I sent you a PM to avoid sidetracking this thread. A software question.

Thanks for any assistance,
Hu

cuesmith said:
I've got a couple of versions of BobCAD but I've only used them briefly. I purchased a CadCAM program from "Servo" in California that works much, much better for me. it contains several "utilities" that enable you to efficiently import different types of drawings, formats, etc. It's a lot easier to use than any of the other programs I've tried out, and that's been quite a few. It has all the functions needed for cuemaking and they're not burried along with all the "bells and whistles" of the high end programs, that are never used in cuemaking. It's called "FastPath" or "WCAM" . With it (and a few tricks I've learned over the last 12 years of self teaching myself) I can do everything including "4th Axis Engraving". I can scan a picture in, convert it to a line drawing, and wrap the picture around a cue. When I was perfecting the technique, for grins, I made a purple heart cue with 9 Corvettes wrapped around the butt.
The ONLY advantage I see to BobCAD is an add on optional program for nesting, which carries a $1000 price tag and only works with their newly released latest version.
I still use an old Ah-Ha controller which works just fine, but the manufacturer has since closed up shop, so if it ever gives up the ghost, I'll probably go with a Mach controller.


Just more hot air!

Sherm
Click to expand...
 
I use Mastercam. I'm not a cue maker though. I use it for building molds for a plastic company. Im sure mastercam could do anything you wanted to do. Fairly expensive though. My software was around $20,000.00
 
bstroud said:
I use Alias Studiotools to draw in and Edgecam for machining because it is the only true 4 axis software.

bill stroud
Click to expand...

Oh like you know anything about CNC machining :D

Seriously though glad to see you hanging around here Bill.
 
sneakout said:
What software are you using to draw then generate your G code? I did read Joey’s post dated Oct 2004 “ How do you draw?” . I hope there is updated info out there. I’ll share with you what does not work well… I used Corel Draw 11 to draw the outline and saved as a DFX file (autocad R13). I used Corel Draw because it is easy to convert a picture to a vector line drawing. Then I imported the DXF file into BobCad V20. Selected pocketing and had it generate the pocket tool path. (I have had some trouble with spiral versus horizontal cutting methods- still trying to figure that out) I can not get bobcad to generate the G code directly. The button is greyed-out. My mill is controlled by Mach 3 but Lazy cam seems to have problems so I used MACH 2 to generate the g code. Used a freeware editing program to clean up the code (rewrite it!). Then ran it on Mach 3.

Anybody have a method out there that works?? I am willing to try different programs or / and listen to advice on how to get my programs to work. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance to all,
Sneak Out
Click to expand...

I use SolidWorks and CAMWorks. Not that it means anything though because it is too expensive to the casual user.
 
bstroud said:
I use Alias Studiotools to draw in and Edgecam for machining because it is the only true 4 axis software.

bill stroud
Click to expand...

what about gibbscam bill?
 
gibbscam

Skins,

I started with Gibbs on a Mac.
Then I got Virtural Gibbs and used it for a while.
For 2 1/2 D work it is great. Easy to use.
I recomended it to both Cogno and Gina. They are still using it.

For real 4-axis(all moving at once) you need Edgecam.
I have looked at MastercamX and it looks like it may do 4-axis as well.

bill stroud
 
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