Quuestion for cad cnc guys
 

Forgive me but I'm intrigued by this process and have a few questions...
Do you design in one application and use another to generate the code for the machine that dictates milling parameters ?? Or is there one application that does it all.Can I use Solidworks for instance to design and generate the milling data (G-code??) within that application ??
Do you design only in a dedicated modeller and then use something like mach3 cnc to generate cuts and steps code for the cnc mill ?
Once you have the code do you simply plug into the cnc mill via computer and push "Start" once you've got the workpiece zeroed out I assume so the mill starts in the physical world at the same point as it does in the 3d world??

Thanks in advance

pinolelst

What no one knows or was my question too vague ?? :024:

I just want to know what software I need to design and produce parts and pieces via a cnc mill.Software to design and dictate machine actions

for instance is solidworks all I need...will it generate the code necessary to run a cnc mill or do I need a second application to run the mill??

Thanks

Steve

For CNC machining you need several steps;

One; creat a CAD/step/iges file (with a-cad/SW or such)
two; convert the CAD file to a machine language, and include the tool dimensions to determine the path the bit needs to go (such as g-code) (several software options are available)
three; you need a device that knows how much steps your computer needs to give to the steppermotors to move the table. this software understands the G-code and translates it into pulses for the stepper controller boards.

I am stilll looking for an intuitive working CAD/CAM solution. SW is easy software, the last step is obvious as well, there are DOS based programs and there is windows based software.

I thought with Mach yuy can draw and create G-code, but since the easiest solution for me is SW, i choose to draw in SW.

Thanks for your reply.I thought I'd offended someone :005:

So maybe Mach3 is an all in one solution ?? I have access to and have played around a bit with SW I just don't want to waste a bunch of time learning software I won't use ultimately
Thanks again

Steve

Heya Steve; Sorry for neglecting your post.

You can draw in mach3, but it's not the easiest program out there. SW is much easier to draw with.

It's quite a struggle to get the ship floating IMO.

Here, this might help you out;
http://www.cnczone.com/