Newbie designer

[Conan257]

Im in the process of building a cnc router, and whilst i'm waiting for parts i've set to designing parts for cutting using the router.

I wonder if anyone with some experience can help me with my initial designs.

The piece will be 5mm perspex, out of which is cut holes for fans (parts for a pc case) and possibly cut out screw holes too.

But I cant figure out how to turn my 2d design into thickness (3d) within ArtiosCAD. Do I need to do this? or will a dxf file with the 2d design be enough since all cuts will be through the material?

I've included the zipped dxf if anyone wants to peruse

[Smiler]

Im in the process of building a cnc router, and whilst i'm waiting for parts i've set to designing parts for cutting using the router.

I wonder if anyone with some experience can help me with my initial designs.

The piece will be 5mm perspex, out of which is cut holes for fans (parts for a pc case) and possibly cut out screw holes too.

But I cant figure out how to turn my 2d design into thickness (3d) within ArtiosCAD. Do I need to do this? or will a dxf file with the 2d design be enough since all cuts will be through the material?

I've included the zipped dxf if anyone wants to peruse

Welcome to the forum!

No, you can use a 2D CAD package to generate your outline DXF. You need to use some sort of CAM program (LazyCAM? if you are using Mach3) to generate the toolpath and G Code. You could manually plunge the Z axis through the perspex and then set off the router but that seems to defeat the object of CNC and automation. Either way you need to generate a toolpath and then G Code.

Jeff.

[Conan257]

I can generate a toolpath, and as far as I can tell I have done so (created the .nc file form the .dxf).

Indeed, a program called CutViewer Mill appears to show the cuts in a sensible fasion.

Still unsure as to how to organise the z-axis plunge, since I think this is still missing from my design...

Perhaps i'll look into LazyCam or something else as I dont think Artios is an ideal program to use for designing.

[Conan257]

Tried to use sketchup since I have a decent amount of experience with it... Converted to dxf, converted to .nc... And the cutviewer shows the bit cutting all the material from the design, not just the bits I dont want :S

[Conan257]

Well, using a combination of ArtiosCAD to draw, Ace to convert from dxf to nc, then CutViewer to inspect..

It all appears to be fine... Not quite sure how in the end, but all cuts appear to be working fine... Although for the time being all designs will be full cuts... I'll have to rethink the software side if/when I go onto engraving.

[Smiler]

If you want to multi Z cuts (to say cut through 10mm thick ally) you could always run the program say 10 times, editing the code and incrementing the Z by 1mm each time (or whatever your machine can handle).

Pleased you got someting sorted out anyway.

Jeff.

[Conan257]

I suppose that is an option, not entirely sure how capable the machine will be... But since i'm only planning on 5mm perspex for now, i'll be fine...