Advice on RoboCutters EagleIII CNC Machine 400x600mm

[martin54]

Can't help with the machine as I don't know the Company but how easy it is to use will depend on what you are doing with the machine.
Once you have a vector drawing done in what ever cad/design software you will be using you will then need to produce the toolpaths so the machine can cut it & for this you will need cam software. The cam software produces the gcode which is what actually drives the machine & for that you will need software to control the actual CNC machine.
Looking at their website they bundle mach3 & lazycam with the machines. Mach3 is the software that controls the machine, lazycam is the cam software.
What ever you decide to do about the machine itself you would do well to start looking at software now, both mach3 & lazycam can be downloaded from the artsoft website free so you could download them & familiarise yourself with them prior to getting the machine. Personally I didn't find lazycam that easy to learn & there isn't a lot of support for it which didn't help. There are other cam packages about both free & paid for which will work fine with mach3.

[Phizell]

Hi Martin54,

I have been told a fully licensed copy of mach 3 is part of the package and that I should invest in cut 2 d as that is what the personal preference is for the guy that owns Premier sign (Colin) but it seems quiet expensive so good freeware alternatives that people can recommend would be appreciated.

I have checked with premier sign and they are VAT registered

I think that Johns suggestion of a 6040 might be more hassle than its worth especially if I cant get support from the company and I have this nagging feeling that if it goes wrong I will be stuck with a large paper weight.

Unfortunately there does not seem to be many people selling CNC machines within my price range in this country so I think my choices are limited.

Any help and advice taken gladly,

Phillip

[John S]

but it seems quiet expensive so good freeware alternatives that people can recommend would be appreciated.



Phillip

It's not expensive, how much is your time worth, sounds like you want it for business, Cut2D has the fastest learning curve I have seen.
Problem with these freeware things is they were developed mainly as a hobby project by people with more time and money and it shows.

Download the Cut2D demo it will output code for the examples shown so you do at least get a chance to try it, Spend one night watching video's and another night using it and you are ready to go, it literally will be that easy.

[martin54]

It's not expensive, how much is your time worth, sounds like you want it for business, Cut2D has the fastest learning curve I have seen.
Problem with these freeware things is they were developed mainly as a hobby project by people with more time and money and it shows.

Download the Cut2D demo it will output code for the examples shown so you do at least get a chance to try it, Spend one night watching video's and another night using it and you are ready to go, it literally will be that easy.

I couldn't agree more John, cut2d was under £100 so not a lot for business software at all. Watched the tutorial videos & I was all set to go, some people have said it's a bit flashy but it really is easy to use & I don't have the time to sit trying to figure out how something is done or searching the net trying to find answers. The vetric forum is quite well supported as well so easy to find answers to questions if you have any.

I know the machine comes bundled with mach3 but if you were to download the latest version you would be able to get familiar with it before the machine arrived, least that would be one less thing you would have to do once the machine arrived.
If Jay has had to upgrade the wiring on his machine already then that's not really working straight out the box in my view, plus has he been running it 6 hours a day 5 days a week?

[Fivetide]

I have the baby Blackcat (older version of eagle) from Colin, all i can say is he will bend over backwards to help you in anyway he can..