> -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Albertson [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: May-29-20 9:33 PM > To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) > Subject: Re: [Emc-users] On Motorizing a BS-1 clone > > I'd place AlibreCAD on the list of "normal" or "modern" 3D CAD systems. > Like a scaled down version of Fusion, or SolidWorks. The workflow you use > is very conventional. Except AlibreCAD is "windows only" and not free. > > What workflow do you use for getting AlibreCAD designs to the CNC mill? > Does AlibreCAD have a CAM add-on or is there a 3rd party software. One > of the things I like about Fusion is that it will directly make g-code for > a mill or lathe. I would like to hear from others how they go about going > from design to both printing and milling.
It's called AlibreCAM and costs money too. It's a version of Mecsoft CAM that is integrated into AlibreCAD. So you can flip back and forth between the two. When you load AlibreCAM from AlibreCAD it remembers that you have CNC operations for the drawing and asks if you want them loaded. I have the level that supports the 4th axis. A new version has been released. I haven't checked yet whether they have solved the 4th axis motion problem. But apparently that exists in a lot of CAM programs. A refresher. If you set F4 for the imperial machine then the feed rate is 4 IPM. If you want 4 IPM on a rotary object the system has to know where Z is relative to the axis of rotation to move the rotary axis at a speed that creates 4 IPM. As the diameter (Z axis) changes the rotary movement should change. This is similar to a CNC lathe changing the spindle speed as the X axis moves inwards to maintain the same SFM. There are aftermarket programs that will process G-Code to fix this for CAM programs that don't do it right. The last time I checked Mecsoft did not do it right. I don't believe Fusion does it either. John > > > On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 7:28 PM John Dammeyer <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > > I use AlibreCAD to draw the item. In this case half of a pulley pattern > > for the mill conversion. I export the file as an STL. I then load that > > with Repetier which is configured for my printer. I can turn it and > > position it exactly where I want it on the print bed. I then slice it and > > save the .gode file. > > > > > -- > > Chris Albertson > Redondo Beach, California > > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
