Ok... I have (kinda) figured out CAD using SketchUp, but...
Before I put blade to wood and actually build this thing, I am trying to get a handle on the software first. And since I have NEVER used a CAD program in my life, you can imagine how interesting this is - what with trying to teach myself. Kinda hard to teach yourself something that you don't know, isn't it? Like looking in the dictionary to find out how to spell a word
OK, anyway... I use Linux, so I have been trying to find software that work well with that, at least for learning purposes. I do have Wine and VirtualBox to use if all else fails. And of course, I can install whatever OS I need to on the dedicated CNC computer. Oh and like most, I am broke, so that has an influence on what I use...
I tried Blender, but couldn't make heads or tails out of that. I tried qcad, but had the same results as Blender - none. After watching the videos I found on using CamBam, I'm going to give that a try. I did, however, find Google SketchUp, which runs fine under Wine (with a couple of registry tweaks). I've been playing with that and I have figured out how to build simple 3D object with it.
As for CAM software, I have tried OpenCAM, G-Simple, GCAM and FreeMill. The first three seem to only want to work with 2D objects. FreeMill, while it handles 3D objects, when I went through the paces and ran simulate on the toolpath it created, I was less than happy with the results, to say the least. The problem with it, I think, is that instead of cutting the piece out like CamBam did in the video, it starts in one corner and moves across the workpiece and back again inching forward a step at a time until it reaches the opposite end. the results were not pretty. So, unless I am doing this wrong, I need further help.
I guess what I am asking is how to I translate SketchUp 3D models into clean g-code to run on the CNC machine? Maybe something that takes a more direct approach to tool path as opposed to printer-style cutting?
Just in case you'd like to see what I am trying to do:
SketchUp Model
STL file
image of 3d model
what the model looks like after a simulated cut at the finest resolution
Thanks....