auto4
New Member
Posts: 3 
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Post by auto4 on Jul 22, 2018 12:32:56 GMT
Before purchasing my cnc machine I want to make sure I have my computer requirements met. My plan is to purchase a laptop for the cnc. However I would like to do all my design work on my desktop. Here in lies the problem, I have an Apple Desktop. My questions are,
1. Can I do design work on my Apple and easily transfer the work to a windows based notebook.
2. I suspect the answer is no. So my next question is what should I be looking for when I purchase a laptop? I don't want minimum requirements but something that won't break the bank either and still get the job done.
Thank you
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Post by Hommer Woods on Jul 22, 2018 14:02:30 GMT
I use two Windows PCs, one for design in my office and one for driving the Carve King. The one I use for the Carve King is an old laptop I had laying around. It is an i3 processor but does have Windows 10 on it. Not a speed demon by any means but it doesn't take a lot to run UGS.
I would assume as long as the application you use on the Apple can generate gcode files you could then transfer them to the machine running UGS and be fine since that is all that is required to run the CNC.
I transfer the files by uploading them from the design machine to Google Drive then downloading them to the other PC to do the cutting..
Another option some have been doing you might look into is using a Pi to run the CNC. There are other posts on the forum about this subject too if you do some searching.
Hope that helps.
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auto4
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by auto4 on Jul 22, 2018 14:32:10 GMT
Thanks for the advise. I've been using Inkscape for work I've done on a cricut vinyl cutter. Inkscape has the ability to create G code, so I am told, haven't tried it yet, so I was hoping to continue using Inkscape since I'm already somewhat familiar with it.
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Post by Hommer Woods on Jul 22, 2018 14:39:01 GMT
Thanks for the advise. I've been using Inkscape for work I've done on a cricut vinyl cutter. Inkscape has the ability to create G code, so I am told, haven't tried it yet, so I was hoping to continue using Inkscape since I'm already somewhat familiar with it. I used Inkscape some when I first started. I now use Cut2D by Vetric. Their products are very nice. www.vectric.com/Vcarve and Aspire look great but are more costly and I have been focused on 2D items so far. May have to upgrade at some point. Their products appear to be windows only but if you desired I would think they could be run in a windows emulator on IOS. Not an apple guy so I don't know much about that. |
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Post by Derek the Admin on Jul 22, 2018 16:40:42 GMT
If you do need a Vectric product, let us know. We are a dealer.
You can run both Fusion and UGS on a Mac, so I think you would be okay.
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Post by Hommer Woods on Jul 22, 2018 17:01:41 GMT
I use two Windows PCs, one for design in my office and one for driving the Carve King. The one I use for the Carve King is an old laptop I had laying around. It is an i3 processor but does have Windows 10 on it. Not a speed demon by any means but it doesn't take a lot to run UGS. I would assume as long as the application you use on the Apple can generate gcode files you could then transfer them to the machine running UGS and be fine since that is all that is required to run the CNC. I transfer the files by uploading them from the design machine to Google Drive then downloading them to the other PC to do the cutting.. Another option some have been doing you might look into is using a Pi to run the CNC. There are other posts on the forum about this subject too if you do some searching. Hope that helps. Another reason I use two machines is so my primary laptop is not in the shop exposed to all the dust. |
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auto4
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by auto4 on Jul 22, 2018 20:33:37 GMT
Yes. That's why I want two machines. I don't want my mac anywhere near my workshop. However ,I would like to do all my design work on the Mac. Then transfer the g code to a cheap laptop in my workshop. Is there anything special I should be looking for in a laptop?
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Post by Hommer Woods on Jul 22, 2018 20:51:29 GMT
Yes. That's why I want two machines. I don't want my mac anywhere near my workshop. However ,I would like to do all my design work on the Mac. Then transfer the g code to a cheap laptop in my workshop. Is there anything special I should be looking for in a laptop? Not that I can think of. Just need a USB port. I connect to my wifi so I can move the gcode files via Google drive without having to use a thumb drive. Otherwise the needs are pretty basic. |
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Post by Hommer Woods on Jul 22, 2018 20:54:44 GMT
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Post by Bruce on Jul 23, 2018 2:09:48 GMT
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freik
Full Member
"What did you buy the new CNC Router for?" "To make stuff for my CNC Router!"
Posts: 107
Location: Bellevue, WA
Machine: Power Route
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Post by freik on Jul 26, 2018 0:08:26 GMT
I have an 8 year old PC laptop running my PowerRoute, and I use either my MacBook 12" or my self-built super-beefy PC to do the design work. The PC pwns the Mac for CAD, honestly, because the PC is a relatively new 4 core i7, and the MacBook is a dual core low power i7, that my employer paid way too much money for  I dump my g-code on a Thumb drive, and there we go. I recentlt got some WiFi coverage in my shop, which is awesome because I can do minor edits in Fusion360 and re-post the GCode from the ancient Windows laptop in a pinch. If you're just driving the router, basically *any* PC you buy new will run it. Heck, you can probably just find someone trying to unload an old laptop on craigslist for supercheap, and still be fine. (My laptop is a first generation dual core i5 with 4G RAM, and it has no problems) |
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Post by Hommer Woods on Jul 26, 2018 12:49:02 GMT
I have an 8 year old PC laptop running my PowerRoute, and I use either my MacBook 12" or my self-built super-beefy PC to do the design work. The PC pwns the Mac for CAD, honestly, because the PC is a relatively new 4 core i7, and the MacBook is a dual core low power i7, that my employer paid way too much money for I dump my g-code on a Thumb drive, and there we go. I recentlt got some WiFi coverage in my shop, which is awesome because I can do minor edits in Fusion360 and re-post the GCode from the ancient Windows laptop in a pinch. If you're just driving the router, basically *any* PC you buy new will run it. Heck, you can probably just find someone trying to unload an old laptop on craigslist for supercheap, and still be fine. (My laptop is a first generation dual core i5 with 4G RAM, and it has no problems) Totally agree. My shop machine is an 8 year old Dell with an i3 and 4GB ram. Works fine. |
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