All About CNC Software
The CNC design process starts with an idea…
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Maybe you sketch it out on the back of a napkin. From there, you need to draw your part in a CAD program. There are ALL levels of CAD programs, ranging from free to some that cost thousands of dollars.
In the ABC’s of CNC video we show you what you’ll need, and how the workflow goes to take you from idea to finished part… without a lot of brain damage!
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Once you have your part drawn in a CAD program, you’ll import the drawing into a CAM (Computer Assisted Machining_ program. This is where the real magic happens. CAM programs take your instructions (like “Cut outside this line”, “Cut inside this line”, or “Cut a pocket here, and stay inside the lines I’ve drawn”, and the program figures out how to move the cutter to produce the exact result you want. A good CAM program will show you a 3D view of the progress of the cut, and the final result. It will simulate the appearance of different materials, and you can zoom and rotate the view to make sure that you’re getting what you want for the final cut. |
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The third phase of the CNC process is the machine control software. The file from the CAM software is loaded into the machine controller, and it “talks” to the machine’s stepper motors (through a controller interface that is connected to your computer) and makes the stepper motors drive your router, mill, or lathe to accomplish the actual cutting. |
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Many of the software packages include special “Wizards” or macro routines that are designed to do tricky operations…. things like arranging a series of holes in a circle, to drill and tap holes around a circular flange.
Just keep one thing in mind…. Nobody learned all of this stuff overnight. Start out simple…. learn as you go, and Enjoy the Journey!
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