[Nasshorn]

My wife has had her APQS long arm quilting machine for several years and now wants to go automated. Our son, who is a mechanical engineer who LOVES to tinker and build has figured out what we will need for the hardware, but has tasked me to find out about the software. I have a couple of older Windows based laptops doing nothing right now, and I'm okay at installing software etc. but have ZERO familiarity with software that will run a CNC system or how they get the pattern from the screen to the machine. I know that patterns come in a wide variety of .??? options (probably not using the right words there) . I have read places in other threads (no pun intended) here where they have referred to free software. I don't even know where to begin and would love some help from others who have gone through this. Also, I keep reading about something called Mach 3, in these threads. What is that and how would it apply to my situation.

Thanks so much for any and all help.

[CNCMAN172]

My wife has had her APQS long arm quilting machine for several years and now wants to go automated. Our son, who is a mechanical engineer who LOVES to tinker and build has figured out what we will need for the hardware, but has tasked me to find out about the software. I have a couple of older Windows based laptops doing nothing right now, and I'm okay at installing software etc. but have ZERO familiarity with software that will run a CNC system or how they get the pattern from the screen to the machine. I know that patterns come in a wide variety of .??? options (probably not using the right words there) . I have read places in other threads (no pun intended) here where they have referred to free software. I don't even know where to begin and would love some help from others who have gone through this. Also, I keep reading about something called Mach 3, in these threads. What is that and how would it apply to my situation.

Thanks so much for any and all help.

You shared you wanted a CNc machine to do quilting. Basic CNc machines are not targeted at quilting. Mach3 is a legacy software program which was replaced with Mach4. You can read about the CNc program just google mach4 CNc and their site will come up. You need to clearly describe what you want to do to get the right kind of help

[awerby]

This guy did it with a hardware and software kit from Openbuilds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=tQJAv6M2AA0 They sell the "black box" for $200, but provide the software for free.