CNC gcode editor

Erik Friesen

I recently purchased a small cnc router for machining plastic enclosure lids. http://www.probotix.com/FireBall_v90_cnc_router_kit/

Anyway, at present I am using emc2 to control the machine. I find the whole cad/cam to gcode thing about more trouble than its worth for what I am trying to do.

Does anyone use a gcode editor that they like? It seems to me that for this project, writing my own gcode will take less time than any other way. I'm open to other suggestions also.

Would mach3 do what I want?

The attached pdf is not the actual thing I am planning to do, but similar.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

There's this freeware program:

http://code.google.com/p/dxf2gcode/

I can't imagine writing gcode by hand, but I suppose I've done worse. :-)

-Phil

W9GFO

TurboCNC is free. Writing the gcode can be done in any text editor. For simple things, I do it all the time.
Mach 3 would also work but I prefer Mach 2.

Rich H

Dgswaner

I use Autocad 2010 and CAMBAM neither are free, but cambam does have a 40 use trial, and isn't too expensive.

I'd be more than happy to produce a DXF for you. I've used cad professionally for more years than I've wanted to. I could draw that up for you in no time at all. I'm offering this for FREE, I could produce the Gcode for you to but, I am a beginner with CAM and machining in general and couldn't guarantee it was accurate or efficient.

let me know

Dave

Erik Friesen

I have this in Corel X4, which I am comfortable using. However, for some reason, corel does not appear to export a v12 dxf, which seems to be somewhat of a standard for converters.

I guess what my point is, it seems silly to try to get this into a cad program, when 100 or so lines of gcode would do the job. A dxf converter does not set milling speeds, so that has to get added anyway. Writing Gcode is a piece of cake compared to writing C or asm. This works ok, not sure what the price is though - http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCGWizardE.html

Cad is expensive, and non intuitive. It takes a time outlay to get comfortable with. Cheap programs are annoying once you know better. Part of the problem with what I am doing is that it neither fits the 3d, or the 2d mold.

I haven't had a chance to try Phil's link.

Erik Friesen

@phil, is there a way to use inches instead of mm?