584,802 active members*
4,983 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    1

    Software Advice Needed

    I am in the final stages of a round column mill cnc conversion. My background with cnc is limited to 3d printing using Blender for CAD and running the design through a slicer to produce g-code. The big difference I see with using a mill versus a 3d printer is that many times I will use the mill to do a simple process like face milling 1/4" off the top of a work piece. Is there any free software designed to produce g-code for simple operations like this where going through the whole CAD-CAM process takes more time than its worth?

    Mach3 will run the mill. I see they offer Mill Wizard for $75, which appears to fill this need. Having never used Mach3, I don't know that I need anything else for simple repetitive operations. Maybe there is a way to get Mach3 to do the task in a semi-manual mode. What do others do when they have to do something simple?

    MP

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    362

    Re: Software Advice Needed

    For what sounds quite straight-forward, just some hand coding with a parametric style to adjust dimensions might be easy enough. Mach-x can do this.

    Otherwise have a look at:

    1. SimplyCam from MR-Soft Nc Software Tools - not free nor expensive but the demo version can produce about 100 lines of code and is otherwise fully functional (except saving drawings)

    2. Some of the Linux based CNC software - may be overly complicated for what you want.

    Cheers,

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Posts
    5728

    Re: Software Advice Needed

    Mill Wizard is a fairly primitive rastering CAM program; I don't think it does anything that Freemill won't. If you have very simple projects, you can execute them by typing commands into the MDI (Manual Data Input) panel one line at a time.
    Andrew Werby
    Website

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Posts
    5717

    Re: Software Advice Needed

    For quick facing jobs, I just use the jog keys.
    Jim Dawson
    Sandy, Oregon, USA

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    1662

    Re: Software Advice Needed

    Quote Originally Posted by he1957 View Post
    2. Some of the Linux based CNC software - may be overly complicated for what you want.
    Simple-gcode-generators, no drawing needed.
    https://github.com/linuxcnc/simple-gcode-generators
    They should able to run stand-alone in Windows (I haven't tested them in Windows personally)
    Anyone who says "It only goes together one way" has no imagination.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 4
    Last Post: 01-14-2019, 10:35 AM
  2. Advice Needed servo drives and controller software
    By Krebomatix in forum Servo Motors / Drives
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-10-2017, 08:01 AM
  3. Advice needed for a 10w fibre laser marking machine using scriba 3 software
    By Basil1234 in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-06-2016, 07:47 PM
  4. [ADVICE NEEDED] Z-Axis not moving - CNC builder needed
    By baodogg in forum Australia, New Zealand Club House
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 06-03-2014, 12:42 PM
  5. Advice Needed on Software
    By RamHemiTX in forum BobCad-Cam
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-06-2011, 07:40 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •