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-==== CNC Software Overview =====+==== CNC Software Overview ====
  
 A typical CNC workflow consists of three steps: A typical CNC workflow consists of three steps:
  
-^  **CAD**  ^ ^  **CAM**  ^ ^  **CONTROL**  ^ +^  **CAD**    ^ ^  **CAM**    ^ ^  **CONTROL**    | 
-|  Create Drawing  |  {{fa>arrow-right|}}  |  Convert to GCODE  |  {{fa>arrow-ri                                                                                                                                                             ght|}}  |  Send to controller  |+|  Create Drawing  |  {{fa>arrow-right|}}  |  Convert to GCODE  |  {{fa>arrow-right|}}  |  Send to controller  |
  
-Within each of these, you have a lot of freedom to choose which applications you                                                                                                                                                              want to make use of in your own preferred workflow. You can select the ones you                                                                                                                                                              are most comfortable, or fit your sort of work better: +Within each of these, you have a lot of freedom to choose which applications you want to make use of in your own preferred workflow. You can select the ones you are most comfortable, or fit your sort of work better: For example, if your work is oriented toward signage and artwork, you'd prefer Vectric over Fusion360, because Fusion shines for engineering users who want to machine engineering type parts. If you run a Laser, you'd prefer Lightburn over the others as it focusses on Laser only.
-For example, if your work is oriented toward signage and artwork, you'd prefer V                                                                                                                                                             ectric over Fusion360, because Fusion shines for engineering users who want to m                                                                                                                                                             achine engineering type parts. If you run a Laser, you'd prefer Lightburn over t                                                                                                                                                             he others as it focusses on Laser only.+
  
 ---- ----
 +
 ==== 1. CAD ==== ==== 1. CAD ====
  
-CAD consists of applications you can use to create or modify 2D Drawings or 3D m                                                                                                                                                             odels, to use as input files for your CAM application:+CAD consists of applications you can use to create or modify 2D Drawings or 3D models, to use as input files for your CAM application:
  
-> TIP: Some CAM application also include CAD functionality, so you may see some                                                                                                                                                              applications listed and both sections.+> TIP: Some CAM application also include CAD functionality, so you may see some applications listed and both sections.
  
 Examples include: Examples include:
-  * [[https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360-for-hobbyists|Fusion 360]] (                                                                                                                                                             Recommended) (2D and 3D) + 
-  * [[https://help.sketchup.com/en/downloading-older-versions|Sketchup MAKE 2017                                                                                                                                                              Free]] (Recommended) (2D and 3D) +  * [[https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360-for-hobbyists|Fusion 360]] ( Recommended) (2D and 3D) 
-  * [[https://openbuildspartstore.com/vectric/|Vectric Aspire/Cut2D/VCarve]] (Re                                                                                                                                                             commended) (2D and 3D)+  * [[https://help.sketchup.com/en/downloading-older-versions|Sketchup MAKE 2017 Free]] (Recommended) (2D and 3D) 
 +  * [[https://openbuildspartstore.com/vectric/|Vectric Aspire/Cut2D/VCarve]] (Re commended) (2D and 3D)
   * [[https://www.qcad.org/en/|QCAD]] / [[https://librecad.org/|LibreCAD]] (2D)   * [[https://www.qcad.org/en/|QCAD]] / [[https://librecad.org/|LibreCAD]] (2D)
   * [[https://inkscape.org/|Inkscape]] (2D)   * [[https://inkscape.org/|Inkscape]] (2D)
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 In most cases you export your drawings as CAM compatible files, for example In most cases you export your drawings as CAM compatible files, for example
 +
   * DXF (2D)   * DXF (2D)
   * SVG (2D)   * SVG (2D)
   * STL (3D)   * STL (3D)
  
-For more details, refer to [[docs:software:file-errors|Troubleshooting CAD files                                                                                                                                                             ]] for help with file formats, and cleaning up files to make them ready for CAM.+For more details, refer to [[:docs:software:file-errors|Troubleshooting CAD files ]] for help with file formats, and cleaning up files to make them ready for CAM.
  
 ---- ----
 +
 ==== 2. CAM ==== ==== 2. CAM ====
  
-CAM software converts CAD drawings/models to machine-readable GCODE that can be                                                                                                                                                              sent to your CNC Controller:+CAM software converts CAD drawings/models to machine-readable GCODE that can be sent to your CNC Controller:
  
 Examples include: Examples include:
-  * {{::openbuilds-icon.png?16|OpenBuilds CAM}} [[https://cam.openbuilds.com|Ope                                                                                                                                                             nBuilds® CAM]] (Recommended)  (2D CAM) + 
-  * {{::icon-vcarve.png?16|Vectric}} [[https://openbuildspartstore.com/vectric/|                                                                                                                                                             Vectric Aspire/Cut2D/VCarve]] (Recommended)  (2D and 3D) +  * {{:openbuilds-icon.png?16|OpenBuilds CAM}}[[https://cam.openbuilds.com|OpenBuilds® CAM]] (Recommended) (2D CAM) 
-  * {{::fusion-icon.png?16|Fusion 360}} [[https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fus                                                                                                                                                             ion-360-for-hobbyists|Fusion 360]] (Recommended)  (2D and 3D CAM) +  * {{:icon-vcarve.png?16|Vectric}}[[https://openbuildspartstore.com/vectric/|Vectric Aspire/Cut2D/VCarve]] (Recommended) (2D and 3D) 
-  * {{::icon-lightburn.png?16|Lightburn}} [[https://openbuildspartstore.com/ligh                                                                                                                                                             tburn/|LightBurn]] (Laser specific CAM) +  * {{:fusion-icon.png?16|Fusion 360}}[[https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fus                                                                                                                                                             ion-360-for-hobbyists|Fusion 360]] (Recommended) (2D and 3D CAM) 
-  * {{:icon-rhinocam.png?16|RhinoCAM and VisualCAM}}[[https://mecsoft.com/|Rhino                                                                                                                                                             CAM and VisualCAM]] +  * {{:icon-lightburn.png?16|Lightburn}}[[https://openbuildspartstore.com/ligh                                                                                                                                                             tburn/|LightBurn]] (Laser specific CAM) 
-  * [[https://openbuilds.com/projectresources/sketchucam.1/|SketchuCAM]] for Ske                                                                                                                                                             tchUp (2D CAM)+  * {{:icon-rhinocam.png?16|RhinoCAM and VisualCAM}}[[https://mecsoft.com/|Rhino CAM and VisualCAM]] 
 +  * [[https://openbuilds.com/projectresources/sketchucam.1/|SketchuCAM]] for Ske tchUp (2D CAM)
   * [[https://sameer.github.io/svg2gcode/|svg2gcode]] Perfect for Pen Plotters   * [[https://sameer.github.io/svg2gcode/|svg2gcode]] Perfect for Pen Plotters
   * [[https://grid.space/kiri/|Kiri:moto]] (3D CAM)   * [[https://grid.space/kiri/|Kiri:moto]] (3D CAM)
   * [[http://flatcam.org/|FlatCAM]] (PCB Milling)   * [[http://flatcam.org/|FlatCAM]] (PCB Milling)
  
-For more details, refer to [[docs:software:cam|CAM Applications]] for help confi                                                                                                                                                             guring your CAM application with the correct Post Processor, etc+For more details, refer to [[:docs:software:cam|CAM Applications]] for help configuring your CAM application with the correct Post Processor, etc 
 + 
 +----
  
------ 
 ==== 3. CONTROL ==== ==== 3. CONTROL ====
  
-CONTROL software is tasked with streaming GCODE to your machine controller. It a                                                                                                                                                             lso handles all the other aspects of Machine interfacing, like Jogging, Digital                                                                                                                                                              read-outs, Alarm/Error handling, Serial Logging, Troubleshooting, etc+CONTROL software is tasked with streaming GCODE to your machine controller. It also handles all the other aspects of Machine interfacing, like Jogging, Digital read-outs, Alarm/Error handling, Serial Logging, Troubleshooting, etc
  
 Examples include: Examples include:
-  * {{::openbuilds-icon.png?16|OpenBuilds CAM}} [[https://software.openbuilds.co                                                                                                                                                             m|OpenBuilds® CONTROL]] (Recommended) - Focused on keeping the learning curve to                                                                                                                                                              the minimum, helps you get started with the minimum of prior knowledge, yet sti                                                                                                                                                             ll really powerful and feature packed with support for Probing, Macros, Machine                                                                                                                                                              Profiles, a 3D Gcode Viewer, Mobile Jog Widget, Surfacing Wizard and many more f                                                                                                                                                             eatures.  For more information refer to [[docs:software:openbuilds-control|OpenB                                                                                                                                                             uilds CONTROL - Introduction]] 
-  * [[https://winder.github.io/ugs_website/guide/platform/|Universal GCODE Sende                                                                                                                                                             r Platform 2]] - Suitable for slower computers 
  
-For example, OpenBuilds® CONTROL:\\ +  * {{:openbuilds-icon.png?16|OpenBuilds CAM}} [[https://software.openbuilds.com|OpenBuilds® CONTROL]] (Recommended) - Focused on keeping the learning curve to the minimum, helps you get started with the minimum of prior knowledge, yet still really powerful and feature packed with support for Probing, Macros, Machine Profiles, a 3D GCODE Viewer, Mobile Jog Widget, Surfacing Wizard and many more features. For more information refer to [[:docs:software:openbuilds-control|OpenBuilds CONTROL - Introduction]] 
-{{:docs:software:openbuilds-control.png?400|}}+  * [[https://winder.github.io/ugs_website/guide/platform/|Universal GCODE Sender Platform 2]] - Suitable for slower computers 
 + 
 +For example, OpenBuilds® CONTROL:   
 + 
 +{{:docs:software:openbuilds-control.png?400}} 
  
docs/software/overview.1732047304.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/11/19 20:15 by admin

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