- Joined
- Nov 8, 2012
- Messages
- 783
I originally was going to start this thread to get someadvice for myself, but after poking around Billy G’s sticky on “Basic CNC”, Idecided to approach it in another way. My thought would be to have it added asanother sticky.
Here’s the thing, I’m thinking I’d eventually like to getinto CNC in my home shop so I’ve checked around in my local area for a schoolwhere I could take a CAD course with no luck. It’s either not offered or wouldrequire attending regular classes which I’m currently not able to because ofworking a rotating shift schedule at work.
Not wanting to wait until I retire to learn, I’m consideringtaking an online course. This is where it gets sticky.
After poking around the internet, I’ve found quite a few outthere. Some are self paced, others on a schedule with an instructor over thenet. Some supply the CAD program that they use (cost part of the class cost),others use free programs, and yet others require you to purchase your own copy.
I’ve searched for reviews which seem almost non-existentexcept for the ones “on their site”.
Anyway, here’s my thought. How about a sticky that discusses:
1) Thevarious CAD, CAM, & G code converter programs,their points good and bad along with limitations, costs and links for acquiring.
2) Programsimilarities for those who have used more than one as well as the type of fileextensions they use and the ability to convert to other formats.
3) Booksand online self learning courses. Experience level of the material, usefulness ofthe help files and/or text/video tutorials and opinions on the usefulness for puttinginto practice.
4) Compatibilitybetween the various CAD, CAM, & G code converter programs (ie can one usethis CAD program with this CAM program)
5) Anythingelse that you can think of that I haven’t listed.
My vision for this would be some sort of condensed resourcefor beginners and veterans alike to get help finding useful information inorder to make an informed choice based on the experience(s) of the vast numberof users here.
I liked Billy G’s sticky on “Basic CNC”, but with currently146 posts on 5 pages, it gets a little hard to follow with the amount ofreading and the occasional off subject posts. It would be nice if someone couldtake all the potentially various inputs from those who would reply and findsome way to condense it down to maybe a couple spreadsheets or PDF files. Sayone that compared the various programs, another about the schools, etc
To help get things flowing, I'm considering getting into CNC. After the research I've done and considering what I hope to do, I'm looking and aquiring a Tormach sometime in the future. They offer IronCAD and SpurtCAM, which I take their machines are designed to work with, as well as Vectric CAM and G wizard.
The info I'd like would be:
1) Can other programs be used on Tormach machines.
2) How difficult are they to learn and use.
3) Online courses that use programs similar to these
4) Is their price comperable or cheaper than can be had elsewhere.
Here’s the thing, I’m thinking I’d eventually like to getinto CNC in my home shop so I’ve checked around in my local area for a schoolwhere I could take a CAD course with no luck. It’s either not offered or wouldrequire attending regular classes which I’m currently not able to because ofworking a rotating shift schedule at work.
Not wanting to wait until I retire to learn, I’m consideringtaking an online course. This is where it gets sticky.
After poking around the internet, I’ve found quite a few outthere. Some are self paced, others on a schedule with an instructor over thenet. Some supply the CAD program that they use (cost part of the class cost),others use free programs, and yet others require you to purchase your own copy.
I’ve searched for reviews which seem almost non-existentexcept for the ones “on their site”.
Anyway, here’s my thought. How about a sticky that discusses:
1) Thevarious CAD, CAM, & G code converter programs,their points good and bad along with limitations, costs and links for acquiring.
2) Programsimilarities for those who have used more than one as well as the type of fileextensions they use and the ability to convert to other formats.
3) Booksand online self learning courses. Experience level of the material, usefulness ofthe help files and/or text/video tutorials and opinions on the usefulness for puttinginto practice.
4) Compatibilitybetween the various CAD, CAM, & G code converter programs (ie can one usethis CAD program with this CAM program)
5) Anythingelse that you can think of that I haven’t listed.
My vision for this would be some sort of condensed resourcefor beginners and veterans alike to get help finding useful information inorder to make an informed choice based on the experience(s) of the vast numberof users here.
I liked Billy G’s sticky on “Basic CNC”, but with currently146 posts on 5 pages, it gets a little hard to follow with the amount ofreading and the occasional off subject posts. It would be nice if someone couldtake all the potentially various inputs from those who would reply and findsome way to condense it down to maybe a couple spreadsheets or PDF files. Sayone that compared the various programs, another about the schools, etc
To help get things flowing, I'm considering getting into CNC. After the research I've done and considering what I hope to do, I'm looking and aquiring a Tormach sometime in the future. They offer IronCAD and SpurtCAM, which I take their machines are designed to work with, as well as Vectric CAM and G wizard.
The info I'd like would be:
1) Can other programs be used on Tormach machines.
2) How difficult are they to learn and use.
3) Online courses that use programs similar to these
4) Is their price comperable or cheaper than can be had elsewhere.
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