Figuring out the CNC

RE: Figuring out the CNC

michaelkellett — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 11:30:11 GMT

I have a full size CNC mill (Haas Tool Room Mill TM1) which I use to cut metal (and sometimes plastic).

I have proper 3D cad software but I manually translate drawings to G code - software that is good enough to fully understand the machine is expensive (although there are some limited free versions).

Autodesk offer a free plug in for Solidworks or Inventor for 2.5 axis CAM:

https://www.autodesk.com/products/hsm/overview

I haven't tried it yet.

It isn't hard to do manual G code translation for engineering type work but artistic flowing curves are a problem.

I did buy a book about G codes but I usually just use the manual which came with the mill.

The mill has a simulation mode which is very useful - there would be several holes in the bed otherwise !

RE: Figuring out the CNC

14rhb — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 07:31:59 GMT

Like [mention:8fb233e8974445138ef0af2b63b49f94:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] I too was pleased to see you opted for a marker pen - I wonder how many people jumped straight in with a Dremel style motor and cutter on the head, didn't have everything setup correctly and ended up with a bit of a mess?

Looks like a really useful piece of equipment with many possibilities for both electronics, maker community and hobbycrafts.

Rod

RE: Figuring out the CNC

gam3t3ch — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 05:42:35 GMT

practice with Styrofoam when I first started messing with cnc I always ran tests before I did my initial cuts. Styrofoam saved more then a few bits let me tell you.

RE: Figuring out the CNC

mcb1 — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 05:10:17 GMT

Nice idea using the marker pen ...

GIMP may be able to do conversions, and it runs in Linux.

I've started trying Fusion360 and followed the sketch video here

help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU

I still find many assume you know the terms and have changed from another software ... [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-4455128a-02ab-45cf-8fe7-3d51227b98f6/contentimage_5F00_53.png:16:16]

Scott Moyse from Cadpro Systems (NZ distributor of Fusion) sent me this.

I haven't watched it yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFPpBGO-uJ4&list=PL5DoZumXk-1Kd78edRtm7gfzHJKChY79S&index=1

He also provided this video on importing a tool library, and applying your first toolpath.

HOWEVER it may only apply to Vertigo machines.

https://youtu.be/8HkMguTbBoA

BTW

I asked the guys at Vertigo how they align machines, and the answer was you face off a piece of wasteboard so that any error on the bed is compensated for.

Many people have commented that you need to ensure the workbench is flat, and this would apply to any machine, but more so the larger the size.

Mark

RE: Figuring out the CNC

fmilburn — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 05:07:20 GMT

Very nice. Please continue to keep us posted.

RE: Figuring out the CNC

jw0752 — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 03:30:11 GMT

Hi Nico,

Some of the machines being sold remind me of the early micro computer days when the hardware would arrive and the software was up to the buyer. We are for the most part pretty spoiled with all the turn key things available nowdays. Thanks for the great post and I hope to see the results when you get it cutting 3D.

John

RE: Figuring out the CNC

shabaz — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 00:11:08 GMT

Hi Nico,

Excellent post! It will be great to learn from your experiences!

I'm hoping to set up a 2D machine at some point (just as an experiement for now), I ordered the XY table at Xmas but have been looking to find some time to explore it properly.

I'm quite scared to go into 3 dimensions currently : ) Two are hard enough to think through for me : )

RE: Figuring out the CNC

genebren — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 23:00:48 GMT

Yeah, this CNC not work as easily as I thought either. I have managed through some very strange assortment of steps (and a lot of help from a friend) to get something to work, but when I tried it again, I got a different result. When I started with the 3D printer I was sure that it would require more hoops and jumps, but wow, it actually worked the first time out. Once I get a shop up and running, I will unpack my small (not quite as small as yours) CNC and try again. Hopefully by then you will have it all figured out and well documented, so it will easy for the rest of us. [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-4455128a-02ab-45cf-8fe7-3d51227b98f6/contentimage_5F00_1.png:16:16]

Great first steps. I look forward to following along and learning everything that there is to know.

Gene

RE: Figuring out the CNC

DAB — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 22:27:28 GMT

Nice post Nico.

DAB