Can anyone recomend the best books for learning CNC milling?

[suesi34e]

Hi Jazz

Many thanks for your msg and offer to help I will take you up on that for sure. What you say makes a lot of sense.

This is where I am at:

I have the mill, AutoCAD and mach3 up and running (I did have Lazycam but the PC I had that on has a temporary issue. I will do some drawings for some 2D parts I would like to make.

I think I could do with adjusting the Z axis as at the minute the collet nut could go down through the table if I made an error, I don't see sense in having it set like that as I must have some material on the bed with some cutter projection.

I think then I need to get some CAM software I was thinking of BobCAD V24 as I can get that reasonable or CamBam. I do not know which is best. I guess once I have the software I will have a go with the CAD drawing and if I am still in the dark ask you Jazz for some help!

Many thanks

Suesi

[EddyCurrent]

I think then I need to get some CAM software I was thinking of BobCAD V24 as I can get that reasonable or CamBam. I do not know which is best.

I use CamBam, at first I thought it was basic and limiting when compared to other CAM software but the reverse is true. It includes some good CAD features for 2D work, lets you tweak loads of parameters, and can use scripts and plugins that users write to expand it's capabilities. It looks a bit daunting at first because it's 'nuts & bolts' rather than 'glossy brochure' stuff.

[m.marino]

Really it is horses for courses,

If I am doing work for a client that can be done in Aspire, that is the tool I use (still has a learning curve and still learning a lot with it). If it needs engineering edges I tend to use CamBam and have set things up for that purpose. Really it depends on what you are using it for and money and time. It took a good while to be able to afford Aspire. But aspire allows me to do drag and drop of pre made models to build finished products for clients and that saves time. It really depends on what you are using it for and what your CNC is for. Jazz is right though that doing a project with the software is the best option.

Michael