Archive:CNC router software eval

We need to find the best Software stack to drive our CNC mill.

The tool chain need three parts:

• CAD/CAM Systems (to produce gcode from 3D model)
• CNC Controller Software (to feed the gcode to the machine)
• Software on Controller to translate gcode into stepper commands (can be part of CNC Controller)

Requirements

• more or less easy to use
• manual operation with external controller possible
• not to expensive
• fast
• Able to control break on Z axis

possible Solutions

Smoothie board

• CNC Contoller

Todo

• Evaluate Controller Software
• Find matching controller Hardware (like this or that.)

Input

• http://www.freebyte.com/cad/cadcam.htm#cadcamsystems
• http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAM

Generating G-Code

• • F-Engrave - DXF to GCode, single pass only
  • gcodetools for Inkscape (not tested yet)
  • dxf2gcode (not tested yet)
  • image2gcode online, not tested yet
• PyCAM (not tested)
  • http://pepijndevos.nl/2012/04/23/fast-pycam-on-mac-using-homebrew.html
• http://simplegcoder.com/ (not tested)
• https://sites.google.com/site/heekscad/home/Details (not tested)