Drawing 3D stl files from a beginners point of view

[luke11cnc]

I'm after learning to draw 3D stl files from a beginners point of view or should I say I don't know what I'm doing when it come to drawing a bas relief.

Now as I under stand it all my stl file bought to date are mesh and all my 2d-3d programs are mesh as well.

Programs I have on my laptop are as follows

Punch Viacad
Vcarve pro 6
Cut3d

Thes are all I have on my laptop but I would like a free 64 bit cam program that is fool proof with plenty of videos that teches for use on my new 64bit computer

on my cnc computer I'm running Mach3


thank you in advance

[EddyCurrent]

Did you look through this list ?
http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/6707-List-of-CAD-CAM-Software
You have some pretty good software already installed so do you have a particular problem ?

[luke11cnc]

I would like to start making my own bas relief also how would I go about adding text to the banner on this relief??

http://www.mycncuk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14530&stc=1

[EddyCurrent]

It's not a trivial task, have a search about for 'height maps' as well.
This member is a master at it; http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/5972-custom-3d-models-for-CNC-sculpture-portraits-reliefs?highlight=chekhov
Some info here; http://www.cambam.info/doc/plus/tutorials/Heightmaps.htm
good free software: http://www.scorchworks.com/Dmap2gcode/dmap2gcode.html

[luke11cnc]

I think I'm going to buy Artcam express But it has some downsides.
I watch a video tutorial and noted that text/font can't be cut on a z-axis without having a flat base. I'm hoping I can buy a add on/bolt on to accommodate this function.

Rhino is to expensive for me I only have £100.00 to spend on my required program

[EddyCurrent]

I think I'm going to buy Artcam express But it has some downsides.
I watch a video tutorial and noted that text/font can't be cut on a z-axis without having a flat base. I'm hoping I can buy a add on/bolt on to accommodate this function.


This any use ? it's free; http://www.scorchworks.com/Gcoderipper/gcoderipper.html

[luke11cnc]

Thank you eddy
I will give it a go.
I found rhino 5 for students £188.00 and as my son is at school I will save up a bit more and buy rhino 5

James