Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Showing 1 of 7 conversations about:
chris_lucero
0
Apr 5, 2014
bookmark_border
What is the controller and software I can use? I have Solidworks and HSMworks, CAD/CAM package and would like to know how I can work with this as far as post processing editing to actually create what I see on the screen. Honestly the assembly isn't any big deal but dealing with the software side can be a nightmare. Appreciate the help, new to massdrop, in case this info is listed somewhere.
Apr 5, 2014
mydiycnc
9
mydiycnc
Apr 8, 2014
bookmark_border
chris_luceroThe MyDIYCNC Desktop CNC Machines can be used with KCam, EMC2 or Mach3 using it’s native parallel port. Add the USB Solution and it comes with FabCAM CNC software. All of these apps process GCode on the machine, so an important aspect is to determine where you get your GCode. The best solutions use already-familiar CAD apps (such as SketchUp, Solidworks and HSMworks) to create your design and export to GCode (with plugin), DXF or STL format.
Those files (DXF & STL) can be read by MeshCAM which is a tool you would use to determine your toolpaths to mill the piece, and then export those instructions as GCode. MeshCAM in particular has a FabCAM output option which produces clean, standard GCode which FabCAM requires. The advantage to using a product like MeshCAM is that it allows control over the milling process as different toolpaths will give different milled results for the same model. The cool think about MeshCAM is that with it’s wizards it is by far the easiest way to get from CAD to GCode and milling. With MeshCAM and FabCAM the production processes becomes very simple.
Apr 8, 2014
dmcewan
2
Apr 11, 2014
bookmark_border
mydiycncIs there a method for sending gcode directly without MeshCAM or FabCAM? Support for Linux is the only thing holding me back and they both seem to be CLOSED SOURCE which seems a tad "retro" these days. Is it possible to use any of the open source tools e.g. the one listed here? http://replicat.org/generators
EDIT: Just to clarify, I understand you don't need MeshCAM and that any standard g-code generator should work; but how do you upload the g-code without FabCAM on an modern computer which has no parallel port?
Apr 11, 2014
View Full Discussion