Building a CNC router - Complete guide

[wizer]

i'm not sure why his account was removed actually. Maybe due to inactivity

 

[CWatters]

I looked at building a CNC machine some years ago but the problem was finding decent software to do what I wanted. I found some free stuff to get from a 2D DXF file into G-Code but I really needed a 3D program. I wanted to cut a aircraft wing that was elliptical/3D. At the time software packages to do this cost $3-5000 plus.

Are there any cheap 3D progs around now? Perhaps something that would transform a Sketchup object to a 3D tool path?

 

[CNC Paul]

Colin,

Have a look at Rhino by http://www.rhino3d.com/
and Aspire by Vectric http://www.vectric.com great software and very easy to use.... Try the trial version.

There is a Sketchup ruby that will convert the Sketchup files into a STL file
that can be opened by Aspire and I think that Rhino might also.

Paul

 

[TheTiddles]

Colin,

Have a look at Rhino by http://www.rhino3d.com/
and Aspire by Vectric http://www.vectric.com great software and very easy to use.... Try the trial version.

There is a Sketchup ruby that will convert the Sketchup files into a STL file
that can be opened by Aspire and I think that Rhino might also.

Paul

There are loads of different softwars available, some freeware, othres just 'available', depends on what you are after, for basic drawing most CAD systems have a free 2D package which is very good but not userfriendly if you are not used to such systems

Aidan

 

[big soft moose]

nice tip - thanks for that. Shame that the pics have gone and Kong seems to have gone the same way...

Miles - take a look here https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... hp?t=19561 Fecn - who is still here has done the same thing