I just received my Elite Woodworker, my first CNC. I design my projects in Solidworks (3d solid modeling CAD) and this is my first venture into CAM.
I’ve been playing with the Vectric Vcarve Pro free trial for a week, I believe that it converts the STL into a pixel biased file? Anyway, it seems to loose the ability to recognize some of the features of the STL file. I have had to rebuild quite a few features into my parts using their design tools with vectors.
Is there a CAM package that will take a 3d file and just create tool paths without a lot of extra work? Without breaking the bank?
I did look around a bit to see if this has already been asked, if so please point me in the right direction. Thanks for your help, Duane.
Hey @DuaneOh congrats on the Elite Woodworker. You made a mighty fine choice for a first machine! It’s a great machine to learn on, as you won’t be plagued with machine stability issues that cloud the learning process. Many other machines (even within the pricerange of the Elite) are not half the machine that the Onefinity is. No, they don’t pay me to say that, it’s just fact.
I have to ask: since you’re designing in SW, why are you even starting with an STL file? I’ve never found much use for that format aside from 3D printing. I would think you’d be better off exporting STEP files, as that is pure, clean 3D solid model geometry. Machining from STL files may cause issues, such as you’ve seen. STL does not hold recognizable features the way STEP does.
To directly answer your questions:
Yes. No.
But I should qualify that answer. There are several good, powerful CAM programs but they tend to get pretty spendy, as they are more in the commercial range (I’m thinking Mastercam). I’ve never used it, but by professional trade association I have known about it for years, probably decades now. But that program is likely way beyond what most hobby people would require.
Since you work with SW, you may want to look into what might be available as a plug-in for SolidWorks. I have a legit licensed seat of SolidWorks 2013 (woefully outdated), but I know there is an Autodesk (yes, you read that right) plugin called SolidWorks HSM Express that Autodesk offered freely to SW users. I don’t have any idea how long they offered that, or even if they still do. But back then, it was free to download & install, and seemed to integrate nicely into SW. I did, just to have a look at it, but I didn’t have a CNC at the time so I never actually did anything with it.
But before you go CAM shopping, I would encourage you to try working with STEP files rather than STL. This is assuming Vectric can read in STEP files. I don’t know, as I’ve never worked with it.
I have a 2020 SW license and it does everything I need except there isn’t a CAM post processor for the Masso. Vcarve does not import Step files, only STL. Thanks for your help.
I have been reading about fusion and thinking that may be the way to go. I see that they have 3 options: Personal Use - free, Startup License - $150, and full Fusion 360 - $680. I’ve been looking at the differences / limitations of the free version, but I’m not sure I understand how they may affect my use. Also, at some point I will be selling stuff that I make. Would you suggest that I start with the free trial to evaluate it or just go with the personal use version?
Go with the personal use one first. If you don’t like it or it is to hard for you, then you are out nothing. I believe they allow you to make some money with personal use up to 1k a year I think.
Fusion 360 is a great program and I highly recommend it. The learning curve is probably a lot for most people that do not use a powerful cad/cam system already. Well worth the time you spend learning it.
I use Inventor daily at work. I’ve messed around somewhat with Fusion. I know that people generally like it, and I believe it has a decent CAM processor. But it is somewhat different to work with than Inventor or SolidWorks. I’m surprised there’s not a Masso post processor that works with SW. Sometimes you can try a more generic PP and customize it slightly if necessary. But it’s been ages (decades) since I messed with customizing post processors. Since you already own & use SW, you may want to consider tracking down a pp for that, unless you are on a yearly subscription plan and thinking about not renewing. In which case Fusion may be the way to go.
Vectric doesn’t import STEP files? That would be a solid deal breaker for me (I don’t have it nor do I care much for it anyway).
Interesting. I have been using STL files for 3D printing. What makes STEP files superior for CNC? 3D object is a 3D object, why would format be important?
I looked on the Masso forum to see if a SW post existed, they said there had been many requests for one but SW has ignored them. I have seen instructions on how to customize the code from a Fanuc SW post to make it work, It seemed a bit fiddly and with my dyslexia prone for errors.
I have read that STL files use triangulated surfaces, were Step files seem to maintain the original geometry. That’s my takeaway, don’t quote me… The imported Step files does look much better.
I have used several other CAD programs (schematic / pcb, LTspice and architectural) so I don’t have a big problem learning something new. I installed the Free Fusion and have done a couple of tutorials. It is different but not too bad, it makes sense to me. I will not use it for designing, just the CAM function. It imported my Step file and it looks great. Maybe I’ll be cutting something tomorrow, I hope…
Vcarve was completely foreign to me, but I can see that for what it is designed to do, it would be fast and easy to get going.
Hopefully, I’ve got my problem solved. Thanks everyone’s for your help.
Yes, STL is indeed the preferred (and only, as far as I know) filetype for 3D printing. But as 3D objects, STL and STEP are vastly different. STL is heavily triangulated mesh data, while STEP is a true solid model format. As such, an STL file does not contain recognizable ‘features’ as a STEP file does (a hole, for example). They may 3D print just fine (additive manufacturing), but for machining (subtractive manufacturing) a STEP file is is preferred.
Exactly, and if you have a step file, it is easier to modify or change the features of the model. That is one reason lots of people model it and then only release the STL file so that people are not changing the model as easily.
I’m a SolidWorks user too. I stay away from STL files except for 3D printing, which is what it was made for. https://carveco.com/ accepts STEP files. I have been using that and machining a mold for an R/C boat successfully. After a little while you learn how to cut the machining time down quite a bit. I typically have anywhere from 3 to 6 tool changes per part (manual of course, and separate tool path files). Although SolidWorks for Makers does not support plugins like Simulation and SolidWorks CAM, SolidCAM does actually work (it did for a while, then didn’t now does again, however I haven’t tried it in a few months), but so far have been able to get what I need done with Carveco. SolidCAM also has a low cost version for Makers but also a steeper learning curve although much more capability.