For the test, all you have to do is use my circle file and try to cut it.
Ok, it works. It cut a circle about 1 inch or so in diameter. Thanks.
The file will cut a 1" circle from the center of the tool.
Have you deleted your last post ?
You had issues regarding the Vectric Cut2D software.
I can help you out regarding the use of Vectric. The software is best using DXF files so what i do myself is setup my cutting area (rectangle) in DraftSight and once that’s done i open it in Vectric.
Thanks DiaLFonZo. Yes, I deleted it because I discovered that you had to start a new project before you could import anything. I had originally thought that I could just open the Cut2D program and import the .v3m file immediately and then just start working on it. I deleted the post because, since I found the solution to the problem, I didn’t want to bother you with it. You had been such a great help for me on the cnc issue.
I Bought Cut2D Desktop, and downloaded VA3D_Machinist, as well as DraftSight. I have not tried using DraftSight yet. I have been spending a lot of time, first looking at all of the tutorial videos for Cut2D, and then all of the tutorials for VA3D_Machinist. I will now take a look at DraftSight later today and see what it is all about.
VA3D_Machinist does not save files in DXF format, only .v3m format. I actually only used VA3D_Machinist because I thought that I could download one of their pre-made carving projects that I could use to actually try out my cnc. I am located in Toronto, Ontario and it seems that there are few places around here to purchase cnc router bits. I found 2 places here but both were out of stock on most bits that would fit my machine. ( 1/4" and 1/8" shanks). I could order some from China on eBay but I don’t know what quality they are and it takes several weeks to arrive here in Canada. Currently I am looking for the following:
1/8" ball nose
1/4" ballnose
1/8" endmill
1/16" endmill
All of the above with 1/4" shank.
I did manage to order a 60 degree lettering bit which should be here sometime this week. Are there any other bits that you would recommend? I would be doing mostly signs in wood and plexiglass as well as some PCBs.
I appreciate your offer of help with Cut2D but is this the forum to post that topic? I didn’t want to cause any issues with posting off topic.
Cheers
RobotShop is now partner with Carbide3D and soon we will have some cutting tools online.
The only thing i do in DraftSight is to setup my cutting file.
]If i plan on using a 12 x 24 piece of wood i draw a rectangle of that size./:m]
]Add the file i want to cut and where i want to cut it. Usually near my Homing./:m]
]Save the thing in DXF (R12 ASCII Drawing (.DXF))/*:m]
]In Cut2D click Open and select the .DXF file/:m]
That will be great when you get some tools online. I wasn’t sure what DraftSight was all about but I see now that it is a CAD program. I am anxious to try this cnc out but I’ll have to wait until my lettering bit arrives sometime near the end of this week. I also ordered a 1/4" endmill. I’ll practice on some cheap pine board and, once I get to the point where I can do a decent looking sign, I’ll try it on some mahogany. After that I’ll experiment with some plexiglass.
Cheers!
You can get some normal tools for Router at a hardware store as well.
I can give you some help with vectric.
Once you have created a finished project in Cut2D, can you send the code directly to your cnc machine or do you have to use another program such as Universal Gcode Sender? If you need another program, which one do you use?
Cut2D is not made to talk/send to your CNC.
The ones used by SparkFun do not work well ? Was looking nice and is free.
I use Mach3 software but it’s not free and i don’t like it. My CNC controller (board) is not compatible with LinuxCNC which i was using before