Newbie Novice

[WoodKnot]

Thanks routerdriver - i have had a good look, however, many of them need quite a bit of knowledge about the entire process and was looking for something that would enable me to create, hit the 'carve' button and off we go!!

[routerdriver]

Thanks routerdriver - i have had a good look, however, many of them need quite a bit of knowledge about the entire process and was looking for something that would enable me to create, hit the 'carve' button and off we go!!

You may be in for a shock then.Any program will require an amount of input to function.They may be located in all sorts of places,but they all need similar information regarding cutter geometry and feed speeds.The most basic letter carving program I have used is F-engrave and you need to supply tool geometry and feed rates.

[routerdriver]

Thanks routerdriver - i have had a good look, however, many of them need quite a bit of knowledge about the entire process and was looking for something that would enable me to create, hit the 'carve' button and off we go!!

You may be in for a shock then.Any program will require an amount of input to function.They may be located in all sorts of places,but they all need similar information regarding cutter geometry and feed speeds.The most basic letter carving program I have used is F-engrave and you need to supply tool geometry and feed rates.

[WoodKnot]

Thanks routerdriver, ironically, you put in your cutter dimensions, intended depth of cut, router type etc and it works out all the feed rate etc. It even shows you if use different sizes of cutters what it will miss out on the final carve because the bit is too big etc

[JAZZCNC]

Thanks routerdriver, ironically, you put in your cutter dimensions, intended depth of cut, router type etc and it works out all the feed rate etc. It even shows you if use different sizes of cutters what it will miss out on the final carve because the bit is too big etc

Do you honestly think it's that easy.? IF you do then you are in cuckoo land.

No software and I mean NO software, not even software costing £10k+ can work out the correct feed rates and spindle speeds as there are far too many variables involved.

The best they can do is offer speeds and feeds based on tool parameters just like a speed and feeds calculator does, these are notoriously way off most of the time because they are based on industrial machines and spindles.
Anyone who has used one will tell you at best they are a guide which you use and tweak based on your own machine's strengths and weaknesses. At worst they are miles off and you'll just snap cutters like carrots if you follow their suggestions.

Speeds n feeds is a whole learning curve in its self and each machine, cutter, and material combination will change the settings. This is why what works for one person often doesn't work for others as there are just too many variables that come into play.