11290
New Member
Posts: 3
|
Post by 11290 on Feb 14, 2020 2:32:33 GMT
First let me explain, I know very little about the CNC world but am trying to read & learn as much as I can. Went to a short class today where they were using the X-Carve CNC (FWIW, I thought for the price their charging for the machine it looked really, really cheap and flimsy) and Easel software. Had us create a small project in Easel and run it on the CNC.
My question, I'm looking right now at the Carve King product and wondered, if I use this and then use the Easel software (since that seems to be what I would have the most local help on), will the CNC run off of that software without any other "in between" software or do I have to make any conversion between Easel and whatever comes loaded on the board of the Carve King.
Sorry about my ignorance but just having a difficult time wrapping my arms around this whole hardware / software stuff for the CNC. Was much easier for my 3D printer, or so it seems.
|
|
|
Post by btreichel on Feb 14, 2020 15:03:34 GMT
Ok, here is the short version. From something like easel (or vectric, fusion 360. carbide create, etc) you normally would save a file to be sent to a another program. In this case UGCS (universal gcode sender). In Cura, et.al. you set machine type etc (same for a specific cnc machine) and then put the sd into the printer controller that has the a UGCS type piece of software (ramps, etc). Putting a SD card into a CNC machine is frowned upon because if something goes wrong it can act like a friction fire starter. With a printer all you get is stringy mess, or a clogged nozzle.
|
|
|
Post by Bruce on Feb 15, 2020 5:23:50 GMT
You don't want to use Easel as the G-code sender, it can mess up the G-code settings in the Carve King. But you can use it to develop parts as the CAD/CAM. But export and save the G-Code and use a different G-code sender like UGS or some other kind of G-Code sender.
|
|
11290
New Member
Posts: 3
|
Post by 11290 on Feb 15, 2020 15:45:23 GMT
Thanks for the feedback. Think I will "stepback" from all of this and evaluate both the software interface issues and also the time needed to learn multiple programs just to make an engraving / cut in a piece of wood, as it seems to be much more involved and time consuming than I had first believed it to be (as I said above, my experiences in 3D printing did not seem to be enarly this involved), even the class I took did not involve multiple software packages although it was an X-Carve hardware / Easel class. Maybe this as a "hobby" is just not for me.
Thank you
|
|
|
Post by asumasensei on Feb 15, 2020 17:46:12 GMT
Thanks for the feedback. Think I will "stepback" from all of this and evaluate both the software interface issues and also the time needed to learn multiple programs just to make an engraving / cut in a piece of wood, as it seems to be much more involved and time consuming than I had first believed it to be (as I said above, my experiences in 3D printing did not seem to be enarly this involved), even the class I took did not involve multiple software packages although it was an X-Carve hardware / Easel class. Maybe this as a "hobby" is just not for me. Thank you There are programs that are out there as an all in one but you have to pay for them. The programs that are recommended can be complicated (Fusion, design/create toolpaths) and can be buggy (UGS/sending toolpath to machine) or even a pain to set up if you're not a programmer (bCNC/sending toolpath to machine) but all of the above are free and that's why they are recommended first.
|
|
|
Post by btreichel on Feb 15, 2020 17:59:30 GMT
You don't want to use Easel as the G-code sender, it can mess up the G-code settings in the Carve King. But you can use it to develop parts as the CAD/CAM. But export and save the G-Code and use a different G-code sender like UGS or some other kind of G-Code sender. Correct, my intention was to save & use a code sender.
|
|