I've been experimenting a lot in the last few days with my newly built router and had quite a couple problem at the CAM level...
I tried a lot of nice free apps and as this is very time consuming, I will share some of my gem findings:
-DeskEngrave (very nice tool to create engravings of TTF fonts - output in G-Code or DXF - watch for the decimals and precision... )
-G-Code to DXF (works really well, from a post on this forum)
-Convert (the super unit converter, from a post on this forum)
-Majosoft BMP to DIN (I beg for a better english version, I'm lost at it but it works... Auf demit darnk thingken )
-A9Cad (very nice free CAD program)
-A9Converter (lil brother from A9Cad. Convert between DXF formats)
-Cad X11 Free (another free CAD program pretty all right)
-eMachineShop (a nice lil package... go get it fast!)
-OutlineArt (it puts a notice on the saved file and only saves one lines. But you can fix the dxf afterward...It does not do the Z moves but it's perfect to import in a CAD drawing...)
-Ace Converter (Converts layer DXF to G-Code. You'll learn to love it. It's free and it works... just learn the squirks of it!)
-The Font Thing (If you have many fonts and engrave plaques for clients, it may be long to have your client select what font he wants. You can print a sheet of fonts with the clients phrase on it in all the fonts selected. Just print a full page so he can take the time to chose the font he likes most...)
-TurboCNC (Well, tha CNC package for the low-level tankerer, there are many other but it stands out on price and capacity to run on old hardware.)
Yes, I did test the Mach 2, K-Cam, Delcam, Visual Mill but the demo are pretty unusable in the long term while the above should work all the time even if you use them only once in 6 month. By all means, if you like the software above and use em commercially, please do send these guys a share.
You are free to add to the list, I've seen other posts of this type but I tought I could refresh it with a clear title for newbies like me.
I now have a big question about file exchanges between applications:
Why do my DXF drawings from the converters are all-right in Mach2, K-Cam or Visual Mill Demo BUT it looks like big squares in the CAD softwares?
Even a 3D package like TurboCAD don't get it... So it is not that? Is this a format question?
Thanks to all contributers, Good luck to all beginners!
Para