Best software set for a small cnc mill ?

[routercnc]

Hi Nick,

I've been CNC machining for about 2 years, so still a beginner in many ways, but here are my thoughts.

3D: I don't cut anything 3D so can't comment on Meshcam etc.

GCODE: For 2D I highly rate Vectric Cut2D to import your dxf files and create toolpaths and gcode. This is £95+VAT, and I would recommend it to others. There is a free trial download which you can use to cut out a few examples on your machine to see if you get on with it. There is a nice visual representation at the end of the process which shows what the part will look like before cutting.
http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectr.../c2d_index.htm
I did use CAMBAM briefly (free trial period), which is also good, but went with the more visual Vectric Cut2D in the end.

MACHINE CONTROL: I use Mach3 (under windows xp) get on well with it. The 'trial' version limited to about 500 lines of code is free, and the full unrestricted version is about £115. Other popular options included loading Ubuntu (Linux) and EMC2, which are both free. There are, as I have learnt via this forum, potential timing issues under windows and in principle Linux is better, but there are alot of Mach3 users drawn like sheep (me included - baa!) to the windows xp OS. End the end I think either option would be good, and the decision may depend on how convenient it is to run under xp or linux.

Mach3 seems to be the same price everywhere .. .

Good luck,
Barry

[NICKMODELMAKER]

Thanks for the reply Barry !

Your help is much appreciated and very informative I'm most grateful.

How does the Vectric software cope with engraving ? I only need simple name plates.

Do you have any experience of this ?

Many thanks Nick.