[nekidfrog]

Just curious to all those who've built their own machines. Do you use it for hobby purposes only? or are you making money from them? Mine cuts and is also getting upgraded to be stronger.

If you use it for business... what do you charge? What is the going rate for cnc'ing something for someone?
If you use if for hobby, what hobby are you in that cnc is needed? model aircrafts? RC? furniture? Would like to see some cool projects people have made with their CNC machines!

Is this even the right forum for this question?

What software are you using? Currently I'm using Mach3, and Vectric cut2D. I use google sketchup as my CAD ( I just love the simplistic nature of being able to quickly make shapes to an exact size I specify )

Is it worth upgrading cut2D to vcarve pro? should I buy cut3d? or should I save for aspire? or should I buy meshCAM ?

[ger21]

I built mine for hobby woodworking use, but I've made between $500-$1000 doing small jobs occasionally.
Pricing is a bit tricky, and can vary from job to job. Since my day job is in the woodworking industry, I know what most jobs that I do are worth.

For Software, I use AutoCAD and Lightwave for CAD and modelling, and both MeshCAM and Aspire. For 90% of what I do, I export g-code directly from AutoCAD using a vba macro I wrote.

Whether you should upgrade or what you should use really depends on what you're doing, and how much you like the software packages. It's a very individual thing.

[nekidfrog]

How do you like meshcam vs aspire? or better yet.. your idea of meshcam vs cut3d?

[ger21]

I've never used Cut3D, but from what I've heard, MeshCAM is more flexible with more toolpath types.

As for MeshCAM vs Aspire, they are very different. MeshCAM is a 3D mesh CAM program only. Aspire is a 2D drawing, 3D modeling, and full featured 2D and 3D CAM program.
MeshCAM can do a few things that Aspire can not, and Aspire can do a ton of things that MeshCAM cannot.

If you're going to cut 3D models created in another modeling program or purchased, then MeshCAM is a good choice.
You might want to consider V-Carve Pro and MeshCAM, as that get's you quite a bit for less thabn half of Aspire.
But, you may prefer Cut3D and V Carve Pro, as Cut3D toolpaths can be loaded into V-Carve Pro, to do combination 2D-3D projects.
If you don't need V-Carving, then just keeping Cut2D and adding MeshCAM or Cut3D might be a better option.

[nekidfrog]

Thanks for the input! I think I'll buy MeshCam then. I honestly don't like using cut2d for drawing.. I find the drawing tools to be severely lacking. I can only assume aspire incorporates the same drawing tools as cut2d and cut3d ?

[CarveOne]

Vcarve Pro and Aspire use the same 2D and Vcarve tools and Aspire adds 3D modeling tools. I use Aspire for everything I do now. I have two build logs here that show my machine builds in the woodworking build log forum and all the projects I have built with them is scattered throughout the builds and rebuilds. My .sig line below has a link to my web site where I eventually put the better photos online. I occasionally get a paying job but rarely does it pay all of the costs. It's primarily a hobby for me - the machines themselves, and the stuff I make with them. Going into production and selling stuff on ebay or etsy would make me lose interest in this stuff pdq.

[ger21]

Cut 3D has no drawing tools

Cut2D has a few very basic tools.

Aspire has a very full featured set of drawing tools. But, if you're fluent in a CAD or other drawing program, you might not like using Aspire for drawing. But it does have very good drawing tools.

[coherent]

I have a commercial Plasma table which generates income, although it's not what business I'm in. The table was mostly a hobby purchase with my brother but has/is earning income. I have a small mill I've converted to CNC and a home built CNC router as hobby machines but most folks have a limited understanding of CNC machining regarding metal vs plastic vs wood, so these machines have been more suited to the task for other materials and have generated a few small side projects. The pricing can be a bit difficult and depends on the project, cost of materials and how much computer/design work is involved (and how well I know the individual). I think as a hobby it's fantastic to be able to "make" it yourself on a machine you've built. I think I enjoy building and modifying the machines as much as using them for their purpose so the machines are a hobby in themselves to me. The mill and router definitely haven't paid for themselves yet.
I personally use Autocad for all of my initial design and planning. It's easier & faster than drawing a design on paper and it's exact. Even if you get a cheaper older version you can't go wrong. Once you learn the basics, you'll find it fairly simple and intuitive. I've used Artcam and it can do things some other programs can't, but I find the drawing tools awkward after Autocad. The same for drawing/designing using Vectric products. What I think Aspire is wonderful for is toolpaths & sculpting, be it pockets, profiles or carving, or sculpting. If you can wait and get Aspire, it's a great program with very few limitations.
I took the time to learn Sketchup and also Autodesk Inventor. They have their place and for free Sketchup is awsome and very easy to learn. Inventor has a much steeper learning curve, but is much more powerful. But, for for simple drafting of parts or designs, I always choose Autocad. It's hard to beat in my opinion, but that just may be because I'm proficient with it to a level that makes it easier for me to use than others I've tried.

[nekidfrog]

I freakin love Sketchup!

[tahustvedt]

Hobby. I sell things for up to 1000 NOK ($170) and have sold a lot of things, but I am nowhere near breaking even. The biggest expenditure has probably been CAM software (Vectric Aspire).

[ger21]

I freakin love Sketchup!

Sketchup is the last program I'd want to use as a design or drawing program for CNC.

[jm82792]

I'd stop while you're ahead and avoid Sketchup.

[ssutton]

I spent about $6000.00 (not including software) to build my machine and have made about twice that with it so far in 36 months. It is used to manufacture parts for various other machines that I build, mostly aluminum and plastic pieces when using it as a router and then for plasma cutting steel when I run it in plasma mode. I have also set it up to operate my OxyFuel torch for cutting heavy steel plate but rarely use this feature. I also run a sign job from time to time. I have a full time job but i think that if I had to I could make a living with my machine. The key for me is to make it not just a router, but a multi-purpose CNC. I can use it for cutting Vinyl with a drag knife, a plasma cutter, or a light duty milling machine for non ferrous metals. Building and running a CNC machine has been a great learning experience for me and opened up lots of possibilities.

Mach3
SheetCam (awesome software and support, can do everything from V carving, routing 2.5D, drag knife, and plasma cutting)
TurboCad 19 Deluxe (cheap and surprisingly powerful for plasma work and 2D stuff)
InkScape (free and the latest release outputs stable and dimensional DXF files, great for sign work)
SolidWorks (expensive but very powerful, I have a seat at work and make parts for the plant weekly from SW)

Scott

[Devastator]

I built mine for business. I make rockets at Binder Design The aluminum parts I made just today would have cost $324 to have waterjet cut, and that is a typical day. Pretty good motivation to build a CNC. Probably cost less than a couple dollars in electricity and a few dollars in bit wear. My machine was mostly made from scrounged parts and paid for itself the first day of production. The machine was cheap, software and bits, not so much. Although I barely go through bits now that I have my feeds and speeds dialed in. I probably broke more in the first day than I do all year now.

[bozidar22]

I'd stop while you're ahead and avoid Sketchup.

For the low budget minded Sketchup is not that bad. The early versions were not that good. There a lot of free plugins that make it easier to use for design work.

This is my latest project using sketch up and sheetcam. With a free DXF export plugin and others. Use high segment counts when making circles.

Attachment 235582Attachment 235584Attachment 235586

[mtechus]

Meshcam is pretty impressive although 2D DXF functionality is somewhat limited

[mtechus]

Overall impressed w/ mC. The 2D DXF functionality is somewhat limited

[ger21]

MeshCAM is not a 2d CAM. It was designed to create toolpaths for 3D meshes. While a few features have been added to allow it to do 2D type work, it's restricted by the .stl file format.
I would never recommend to anyone to buy MeshCAM for 2D work. Any 2D CAM program will be far more efficient.

This is my latest project using sketch up ........................................ Use high segment counts when making circles.

That's why I'd never use Sketchup - it can't output circles and arcs.

[nekidfrog]

and this is what I learned last night.. I tried to make a 3d object in sketchup to export as a 3d object dxf and import into the trial of meshcam and meshcam stated it could not find any polygons. Apparently sketchup does produce a solid object

Besides autocad what other options do I have for compatible CAD -> CAM software? something I know that will export 3d models that meshcam can use and is able to export 2d drawings for cut2d

[ger21]

and this is what I learned last night.. I tried to make a 3d object in sketchup to export as a 3d object dxf and import into the trial of meshcam and meshcam stated it could not find any polygons. Apparently sketchup does produce a solid object

No, Sketchup just saves the .dxf with entities that MeshCAM doesn't read. MeshCAM is very particular about what's in the .dxf files it'll import. There are probably 10 different ways to save your sketchup model as a .dxf. MeshCAM will only read 1 type of .dxf entity.

To use Sketchup with MeshCAM, download the Sketchup .stl export plugin. I've played with it, and it works fine with MeshCAM.


Sketchup is perfectly fine for use with MeshCAM, if you use the .stl export plugin.

For 2D drawings, look at Draftsight.