I am new to the Maslow community. I currently build pulpits and communion tables for a pulpit company. I design and produce all my construction drawings with progeCad. It creates Autocad files (.dwg). I can export . DXF files and .SVG files.
Having used Windows and Mac all my professional life, and installed many different apps on each platform, the installation and setup of all the software needed to get things up and running seem to be a bit confusing to me.
I would like to use progeCad to produce plywood (3/4ā) layout of some parts (some are curved) I use in building. Then I would like to create g-code for these. I plan to use a Windows 10 based laptop I have in the shop. Also, I have no internet connection in my shop. We are in a very rural area and itās not available. All I can do is use my iPhone as a hotspot.
What you need is called a CAM (computer aided manufacturing) program to convert your .dxf or .svg files into gcode for the machine. There are a TON of options out there so a quick search in the forums will pull up a number of recommendations, but this one is free to try and cheap to buy and works offline: HeeksCAD & HeeksCNC
There is also FreeCad that can do CAD & CAM to export gcode.
The basic Maslow system setup is:
The Arduino Controller that is on the Malsow machine and connected to the motors. That has firmware updates which are available here: GitHub - MaslowCNC/Firmware: Maslow Firmware
You then have a computer or RaspberryPi that runs the Control User Interface and connects to Arduino Controller using the USB cable. You open your gcode file using this and run the cuts. That can use software:
Finally you have your CAD/CAM software of which there are many options (such as FreeCAD [offline], Fusion360 [requires internet], estlCAM etc). This is not provided my Maslow and must export Maslow compatible gcode.
I am currently learning FreeCAD as a replacement for Fusion360 but CAD/CAM software often changes dramatically in UI and workflow between companies so is often difficult to learn.
Iām using ProgeCAD, tooā¦ I see you posted this awhile ago, weaverrt - did you have any luck? Got any helpful ProgeCAD export / file conversion tips for me?
I tried FreeCAD and found it to beā¦ not very goodā¦ and I definitely want to continue using that AutoCAD interface I am so proficient with.
I sold the Maslow and purchase a 4x8 Zenbot CNC. I still use progecad for my drawings and individual part drawings. I import the part drawings into VCarve Pro. I produce g-code with vcarve. I use Mach3 on a Windows XP machine to run the g-code and drive the Zenbot CNC.
I am also new to the hobby CNC movement and I have to ask a question. What CAD CAM software that is free should I focus on? I know that is a pretty general question that depends on what I need/want to do. So here is a little clarification- I want to cut āsimple partsā speaker boxes. Furniture. Squares. Rectangles. Things like that. ALSO I want to be able to do artsy fartsy stuff like signs (letters numbers) and silhouette shapes (people animals hearts ect)I see these as two different types of parts to be drawn/designed so I assume two different CAD softwares unless there is one that does both fairly well. I also assume that after either/both CAM software the CAD software wouldnāt really matter so long as it spits out Maslow compatible gcode?
Thanks for taking the time to look. Think. Answer. Once I get going I am really looking forward to being an active participant in the Maslow community.
Maybe Iāll be able to answer some questions in the future.
Had some nice weather so I started on my frame today
If you just want to do simple shapes and also things like signs and shapes Iād almost say just skip the more engineering focused CAD stuff and use something like Inkscape. It only does 2D drawing, but it has a friendly learning curve.
yes, you are correct that the CAM software can be anything that spits out
compatible gcode, most things donāt know about maslow (or if they do, they know
about the old maslow), but both the old maslow and the new fluidnc based maslow
are aiming to be GRBL compatible, so look for that in the CAM.
There are a lot of people who like Fusion 360, and a lot of people who like
Onshape (see elsewhere for the vigerous debate about the two of them). Both are
parametric CAD (which means that you can enter numbers to fix things in
position) but that makes them less good for doing curves where the look matters.
I know some people use blender, but I donāt know the path from that to CAM
for the artsy type stuff, see what your art program can export your stuff as.
you may be able to do the art in one program, then output it as a pdf/dxf/dwg or
other vector format and import that into a parametric CAD line Onshape/Fusion to
then turn it into 3d parts that you will cut out.
This was all new to me last year but I bought a laser cutter forst and then a 3D printer to test small files Iād created and Iāve found that if you want a VERY VERY simple CAD/CAM software then Easel from inventables is great! Itās somewhat limited though so I progressed into inkscape for CAD and easel for CAM. As I got better at designing I now use Onshape for all my designs and export DXF from the faces of 3D designs (so I can have them assembled and make sure they work) and import those DXF files to easel to create my Gcode. Hope this helpsā¦ Like I say this was all new to me last year, Iād never touched any cad or cam software before.
I think this is really cool. I can get input from the man himself. Thank You for your response. I hope you are feeling better. Heard you were down and out.
I like the idea of simple and fairly easy learning curve. BUT will I be able to do like a lip in the material to flush mount speaker drivers? Or just straight thru cuts?
@dlang parametric. I believe that was the word I was looking for to tell the difference between the two types of parts I tried to describe. Thank You. I would assume that Free CAD falls into that group and that that would be an acceptable parametric CAD software to use with the Maslow ?
Sadly I have no art programā¹ļø I am not very artsy. I am the complete opposite- very technical. But I do know that this CNC is capable of doing both parametric shapes and artsy stuff and I would really love to be able to do/ learn/ explore both. So ANY and ALL recommendations for artsy software would be great. Sorry if the word artsy offends anyone. I fully embrace my tech geek labelš
@Dan_Bunby Thanks Dan. I will look into Easel to see if it will work for me to start with. Also look at onshape.
I skipped the 3D printer and small laser because I cut my teeth on a 5āx 10ā bed 4kw Mazak CNC laser machine. That was a long time ago and Iāve forgotten more than I remembered about that experience but once you have the CNC bug. You got it!
I have some experience with CNC CAD/CAM software but itās all been proprietary to the machines Iāve worked with.
It was a toss up between the Maslow and a home brew plasma cutter CNC. Decided playing with dead tree carcass would be a little easier than metal.
As you start to use Easel, there are some tips and tricks youāll undoubtedly want to ask. I suggest starting a new Easel specific thread in the Forums when you get to that point and those of us who have been using Easel for awhile can help out.
For simple cutting, openbuilds cam should also work well - free and web based : https://cam.openbuilds.com/ - produces GRBL g-codeā¦ just ignore machine selection and enter your values for x,y,z, and you donāt need openbuilds control. Once you get past that opening dialog, just save your settings to a json file which you can use later to not have to enter all the values again, then file->open drawing file, set up your toolpaths for cutting, etc, then save gcode to a file.
@ronlawrence3 I like the idea of being able to run something on a local machine instead of the cloud. Might need your help with getting that going.
I took a look at Easel and onshape and Inkscape and openbuilds CAM
AND Iām a little overwhelmed to say the least. I just wish I knew exactly what I need and which software suits that need best so I could just throw myself into learning it and using it. I really donāt have time to go down the wrong path so to say.
I am pretty sure you can just clone the git repo or download the zip and open it, then open the index.html file in a browser, or you can run an http server like I do, but I just tried launching the file in my browser and that worked for me as well.
This OpenBuilds CAM is the last step before sending it to maslowā¦ after you have an svg or dxf design this converts it to gcode for GRBL (which maslow speaks).
Iām really new to forums and I donāt really know proper etiquette. I have an unrelated question that Iāve searched for here and have not found an answer. How do I know what ābatchā my order is in. Patients is not my strong suit and I really really want to know when my Maslow will be here.
First, welcome to the forums! As you can see, itās a friendly place with lots of helpful people.
If you ordered your Maslow 4 through the Kickstarter (and Iām almost certain you did because I donāt think they have started taking direct orders), sign in to Kickstarter and find the Maslow 4 campaign. Look for a link to āview pledgeā. It should tell you which reward category you chose (options listed below) and your backer number.
Pledge options:
Support the project! [this one doesnāt get you a kit]
Maslow4 Full Kit Insider Edition
Maslow4 Full Kit Batch #1
Maslow4 Full Kit Batch #2
Maslow4 Full Kit Batch #3
One final note: This would have been a good question for a new thread. No judgment, you are new here and probably new to Discourse. Itās just new thread with a good descriptive title makes it easier for the next person with the same question to find the answer(s) you recieved.
