Easy to use Free/cheap Cam programs

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Charley Davidson

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need to learn how to use a cam program, any recommendations of a free or cheap one with the lurning curve of Florida roads?
 
Learning?

Folks probably need a little more info on what you're looking for. Home cnc, mill , or lathe. I'm far from a cnc guy but I had two in my shop a 2 axis and a 3 axis we just started from the instruction book that came with them. that was a long time ago, 20 yrs, so I'd bet that some companies now offer some assistance just to entice you. Haas, Milltronics, etc. comes to mind right off. Also some of the "software engineer" co. Good luck.
dickr
 
Charley Davidson said:
need to learn how to use a cam program, any recommendations of a free or cheap one with the lurning curve of Florida roads?
Click to expand...


sheetcam seems to be very popular..

I think you could do your drawing and design in something free such DraftSight, Solid Edge, Libre Cad... As far as cam goes theres not alot to choose from that I have found that is free... I've seen gsimple and a few others but not anything that really stands out..

Linuxcnc is not cam software...
 
bruce

EMC2 certainly is cam software.

linux cnc is where you start off to find it.

Turbocad Designer straight from IMSI Design for $39.95 is money well spent.

there's what they call 'pennywise and dollar foolish'.

Have A Nice Day!
 
CNCer's

regarding how 'easy it is to use' CNC software at work.

that just ain't going to happen in hobby CNC world.

it takes a certain investment of time and money.

'nobody rides for free!'

Have A Nice Day!
 
racecar builder said:
bruce

EMC2 certainly is cam software.
Click to expand...


So your saying emc2 will produce G code programming?

You can use a dxf or dwg file and produce program code using emc2?

I'm pretty sure emc2 will not produce code... from what I've seen of emc2 it is control software only..
 
bruce

that's my understanding.

i'm not the expert in our organization on CNC programming.

this is what it says on front page of Linux CNC

'LinuxCNC is a software system for computer control of machines such as milling machines, lathes, plasma cutters, cutting machines, robots, hexapods, etc.'

maybe they renamed it. anyhow Gadget would know.

i think he's smarter than i am staying out of this one!:)

Have A Nice Day!
 
racecar builder said:
bruce

that's my understanding.

i'm not the expert in our organization on CNC programming.

this is what it says on front page of Linux CNC

'LinuxCNC is a software system for computer control of machines such as milling machines, lathes, plasma cutters, cutting machines, robots, hexapods, etc.'

maybe they renamed it. anyhow Gadget would know.

i think he's smarter than i am staying out of this one!:)

Have A Nice Day!
Click to expand...


emc2 and mach3 are control software only... mach3 has lazycam available within it, but to my understanding lazycam isnt very good..


cam (computer aided machining) is where you will spend more money... cad (computer aided design) is pretty easy to find for free, there are several free cad programs that are very robust and finished products available free..
 
bruce

now it's coming back to me.

we use turbocad to draw.

turbocad CAM.

then EMC2 or Linux CNC as it may be called now.

Turbocad is money well spent because it gives you access to Turbocad Forum.

you can get stuck BIG TIME with cad, cam & cnc controller software.

Have A Nice Day!
 
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