Here is really simple, probably stupid question, but do you have to have a CAD program to design something for your CNC machine? Will the Vectric software allow you to design then convert to a tool path for the machine? Or am I missing something altogether here?

 

Maybe, if one of the CNC guru's have the time, they could give a brief rundown on the process to go from a simple idea in their head to a file that the CNC can read.

 

Thanks for the help,

Still a beginner but here goes. Sorry, I am not fluent in the CNC vernacular.

 

The Vectric software is used to design your project. No CAD program needed. At least I think not. Once the design is complete, you switch to the tool path creation side of the program. There you decide what type of tool path is needed for the project. And as I have found out, it is easy to preview your tool paths in 3D preview. You can go back and make as many changes as you need until your preview looks good. Remember to save your file. The software even has a way to increment your saves by one as many times as you like. Then if you mess something up, you can revert back to a previous save.

 

Then, on the tool path side of the program, you click on the button to Save tool path(s). It is this part of the program that will save your tool path in the .ngc format that your machine will understand. The Vectric software has many, many options to choose from. More than likely, your machines gcode will be listed that you can select.

 

After you create the gcode for the tool paths, copy them to a usb flash drive and take it to the CNC and you should be ready to run.

 

That's the short gist of it. Hope this helps. Vectric has many tutorials on You Tube. Check 'em out.

Mike

Edited July 4, 20178 yr by MT Stringer

I am still in the learning stage. I have tried to import Sketchup files, but hit a snag or two...an then all of a sudden one imported just fine. So I don't know what I did right or wrong. More to learn.

Thanks. That helps me understand the process a little bit better

If you have CAD experience using some other program (Which all my students do) then Vectric's programs can import the drawing (in most cases) as either 2D vectors or a 3D model exported from those programs.   

 

I personally prefer doing all my design drawing work within Aspire because all the drawing tools were created knowing you will eventually want to make toolpaths from the drawing.  Profile lines around a shape, for example, need to be joined or closed so that picking any part of the outline selects the entire outline. I often have to do clean-up work on student drawings I  import from Rhino or Revit or AutoCAD etc..   Vectrics products have you begin each new project by telling it what your material dimensions are. So when you are drawing up part outlines you are (eventually) placing them exactly where on the material they will be cut from. 

 

4D

Edited July 4, 20178 yr by 4DThinker