CNC machines - all

[gordonv]

Hi guys. I've been debating about even posting this, before I even got my machine up and working and a few projects under my belt, but it's a little hard to hold back on something so neat. I felt this is the best forum to place this in, and am thinking of one long running post.

CNC machines - all

These little desk top hobbyist machines. I'm talking your 3D printer (and resin), mini lath, laser and milling. I bought the milling machine with a 7W laser.

I have a project I wanted to use it for, but couldn't justify spending $200-$300 for a one job machine, so spent a couple of months trying to think of other things I could do easily. So now that I have it, I'm trying to figure out what software to use to create my job, then there is learning how to import that to CNC. There is a very large learning curve for all this. So that is why the post.

Has anyone else started using these machines, and created files for the Valkyrie?

I'm currently trying to master Fusion 360.

Trying to learn to create things for the laser, engraving, etching and cutting. Import a "picture" and create something of use from it. Inkscape seems to be a good one for this.

[Firefight100]

I have a large cnc router, a Romaxx.  I have tried a lot of software pckgs and settled on Vectric Aspire.  It is expensive though.  I use Mach3 to drive my cnc.   
Yes steep learning curves.  You jus have to get a pckg together and stick with it.  Dont try going from one to another because the first one seemed hard to use.  Thats what I was doing and never could get a good handle on them.  Once I started using Aspire it took a while but I like it a lot now.
You can download and Vectric sw and try it for free.

[dreamaker]

I have a 3040 4 axis built like a train, Very happy with it but I wish I would have bought the next one up. I use QCad/Cam, it is easy reasonable, but it is great for 2.5D.  You can do the Cad and Cam, tool-paths and convert to G-Code. I use Mach 3 on my system.  I have been looking at MecSoft, VisualCad/Cam for 3D, sounds like a good software at a reasonable price. I make all kind of stuff with my CNC, tons of fun. If you go into 3D it can be pretty hairy, Qcad/Cam is powerful and less cumbersome than most Cad/Cam software.

https://www.qcad.org/en/

[gordonv]

Thanks for the replies (I wasn't getting notices of them).

Well my machine is little. It's a 3018 (deck size 300 x 180 mm), and it seems small once you figure out the size of the clamps to hold down the material.

I finally put the thing together the other night. Now to get the software working and verify that it will even function. Figure the laser printing might be first, so have looked and settled on Inkscape. What I'm trying to do is break apart the VRCC logo, so I can print it on the backside of some acrylic plastic, and make some nice cup coasters. Then post it for others to do it themselves.

I was thinking of etching things like the reservoir, cam covers. Maybe make a rad cover, and the backrest plate, with custom cut outs. Then there is also vinyl wrap, figure cut out figures or words, people like putting images or their name on their bikes. Then there is custom mounts, cell/GPS, or ?, for the handle bars or what have you. I'm trying to make a mount for my project of adding a GW gear indicator and gear display (3D printed).

So far the software I'm using is all free. The Fusion 360 is, as long as I stay a hobbyist.

[RonW]

So far the software I'm using is all free. The Fusion 360 is, as long as I stay a hobbyist.

Fusion is costing me $400 a year even though I'm officially a hobbyist. I thought that I'd be using it regularly, but after construction work the energy wasn't there in the evening. On top of that, my computer wasn't able to keep up with the Fusion software and was irritating. I switched my computer over from the default graphic card to the NVidia graphic card that was already prepackaged on my computer and now Fusion doesn't stumble along only to freeze up. What a difference.

The glitch was I didn't know that you had to physically connect the Nvidia port on the back of the computer to the monitor screen with an HDMI MHL cord so the Nvidia does the screenwork. Not knowing any better, I had selected (enabled) the Nvidia graphic card from a drop down menu and the monitor screen immediately went black like there was a power outage and remained black. So, don't try this at home if you don't know how to do it. There's no way of getting the screen back to normal without a working screen to input instructions to the computer, etc. I even tried pulling the round battery that's on the motherboard to reset the settings to no avail. In the end I did figure out the fix, but for a while I thought I would have to buy a new computer. Umm, would it be too much to ask of you to print out the oil filter below? The inside barrel can be left rough and the exterior too. Then the exterior facets gets buffed smooth and flat leaving the incised designs. Most printers don't print out a smooth surface.