Burned Out and can't get started with CAD

[xenoputtss]

So I have assembled my shapeoko and have it running. Created some gears and stuff using InkScape and successfully cut them out. I have also upgraded my shapeoko to have dual "Y" motors, increased "Y" axis length, and created a dust collector for the shop vac to accommodate my next projects which is to make some boards with my name on it.

Here is my problem. I don't know how do design this. I think I need to use a CAD program (and there are SOOOO many of those that work sooooo differently), but with work, kids, house repairs I am finding I am getting more and more frustrated with trying to figure it out on my own that I am beginning to hate the idea of (or even the acronym) CNC.

Perhaps someone can help me out by just telling me how they would do this and then I can just follow those steps. I believe this will be at least 3 steps, CAD (draw the object out), CAM (specify pocketing stuff), and RUN (watch it work incorrectly the first 5 times and make the 6th one).

TLDR;
I want to carve "MY NAME" on a board so that "MY NAME" comes out of the board (not recessed into the board). How can I do this?

[edwardrford]

Hi xenoputts,

I know the feeling, all to well. But, with the fantastic community, you won't have to suffer the learning curve alone! I'm going to do a screencast today for you, to show you how I would do this.

Give me a couple of hours and I'll post back once the video is available on youtube.

-Edward

[xenoputtss]

Hi xenoputts,

I know the feeling, all to well. But, with the fantastic community, you won't have to suffer the learning curve alone! I'm going to do a screencast today for you, to show you how I would do this.

Give me a couple of hours and I'll post back once the video is available on youtube.

-Edward

Oh WOW! That would so perfect.

[WillAdams]

I want to carve "MY NAME" on a board so that "MY NAME" comes out of the board (not recessed into the board). How can I do this?

More or less:

Download Inkscape
install gcodetools
draw a rectangle equal to the size of the recess you want to cut, set it to black
set ``Your name'' in a font at the desired size in a light colour positioned on top of the rectangle
convert the text to paths
Select both objects
Menu Path | Difference to join them into a single path (Control -)
use the gcodetools export to gcode feature

William

[xenoputtss]

More or less:

Download Inkscape
install gcodetools
draw a rectangle equal to the size of the recess you want to cut, set it to black
set ``Your name'' in a font at the desired size in a light colour positioned on top of the rectangle
convert the text to paths
Select both objects
Menu Path | Difference to join them into a single path (Control -)
use the gcodetools export to gcode feature

William

Sounds like another great plan. I will try this tonight.

[edwardrford]

As promised




IMPORTANT NOTE: I noticed after I posted the video that I forgot to change the SVG import resolution from 72 to 90.... I put an annotation in the video to remind people to do this, but thought I'd post it here as well. Simple fix: Click Edit -> Edit Preferences -> Change the top box to 90 (if importing from inkscape as I did in the video)

Enjoy!

[xenoputtss]

As promised

awesome!

Thanks! this is really nice and I will be doing this tonight.

[xenoputtss]

This worked out pretty well.

The only issue I ran into was with makercam.com crashing. when trying to generate paths for multiple profiles. I wasn't sure if it was my computer or not. This isn't too big of an issue as I can just generate the GCode individually.

[atrueresistance]

As promised


IMPORTANT NOTE: I noticed after I posted the video that I forgot to change the SVG import resolution from 72 to 90.... I put an annotation in the video to remind people to do this, but thought I'd post it here as well. Simple fix: Click Edit -> Edit Preferences -> Change the top box to 90 (if importing from inkscape as I did in the video)

Enjoy!

Do you think you could create a video like this for freecad?

[edwardrford]

I could probably do this in freecad as well. Although, i have to admit my freecad skills are lacking. I still havent' made it over the learning curve, so each time I start in with a freecad project, I end up abandoning it thinking I can make it faster in XYZ... Which, as we all know, will never improve my freecad skills!

I'll give it a whirl tomorrow and see how it goes.

-Edward