Pacer Cadet What software?

[rainboweyes]

I have a stretched cadet Pacer cnc which I am very happy with and is working fine. It's working on a windows XP platform. I have been told it can machine 21/2D. This is what I would like to achieve for the cnc. It is a very similar machine that we had back in Artform approx 2001. It had Rhino software and worked fine from what I can remember. I have spoken to Rhino and they can't help me with an old software and their latest version for a licence is approx 2k. This is way out of my league at even half the price. I've spoken to AXYZ who own Pacer now as well. Does anyone know a way around this that works as it would be a major plus to be able to carve etc. Thanks in advance for anyone helping me. Mike

[magicniner]

That's difficult for me to read on my tablet!

[Neale]

If you want something reasonably easy to use, you could look at the Vectric products - Cut3D, VCarve, or Aspire might fit the bill. Alternatively, for non-commercial use, Fusion 360 is a very powerful full-blown 3D CAD/CAM package and is free, but it does cost quite a bit for commercial use

All of these will take you from initial design on-screen through to toolpath generation. Whether they can generate gcode that runs on your machine depends on the motion control software that drives your machine. Do you know what that is?

[EddyCurrent]

Do something about the font you are using !

Have a look at CamBam, FreeCAD, CAMotics.
Members of the CamBam forum can make a post processor (only for use with CamBam) for your machine if you can supply the correct information regarding it's gcode dialect.

[rainboweyes]

Thanks for that will look into this amongst everything else, it's the post processing that is the key by all counts. Tried to alter the text but not happening.

[EddyCurrent]

The problem I have with Fusion 360 is that it's free, there is quite a steep learning curve on how to use it, when the day comes when it's not free I'd have wasted all that time and effort learning it and then I'm back to square one. Open source software is something I use as much as possible if it does the job but Fusion 360 is not open source.

[rainboweyes]

Thanks Eddy for ali your advice it's a good point

[magicniner]

The problem I have with Fusion 360 is that it's free, there is quite a steep learning curve on how to use it, when the day comes when it's not free I'd have wasted all that time and effort learning it and then I'm back to square one. Open source software is something I use as much as possible if it does the job but Fusion 360 is not open source.

I wouldn't worry about that, I'd worry that the documentation isn't up to date with the development and that they break it, you get the broken version, and you have no control over their fix timetable, you got it free, what do you mean SLA? :-)
Autodesk are one of the nastiest companies in CAD/CAM and actively buy up and integrate or kill anything that might threaten their margin, the sooner they go the way of Carillion the better.

[rainboweyes]

Thanks I'm looking at the software's you have mentioned just looking at how to get them onto my pc as they are costly again. Didn't know fusion 360 was free missed that somehow. As you say generating the gcode is a different matter. The information that I can give you about the control stuff is XMC-E Version 3.23.1.6
Model Cadet with NEE Controller Axiomatic Technology Ltd. Hope this helps. Let me know if you need anything else and thanks in advance.