Hello! What are you using over Linux (Ubuntu) for CAD/CAM etc.

Michal_Wilhelm_Jany · January 30, 2014, 10:45am

Hello!

What are you using over Linux (Ubuntu) for CAD/CAM etc. work ? What is your toolchain from project (drawing) to gcode ?

Jarek_Szczepanski · January 30, 2014, 11:01am

@Pawel_Dobrowolski can you help?

Pawel_Dobrowolski · January 30, 2014, 11:13am

Draftsight -> Artcam -> linuxcnc
In artcam you can change postproc gcode arc for your needs.

Marcus_Wolschon · January 30, 2014, 11:22am

LinuxCNC for CAM is it’s own distribution/image with a realtime kernel, isn’t it?

Sebastian_Kuzminsky · January 30, 2014, 4:18pm

@Marcus_Wolschon : LinuxCNC only does machine control, not CAM. And yes, it is available on a Live CD, complete with the realtime kernel it needs: http://linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/download

Sebastian_Kuzminsky · January 30, 2014, 4:19pm

I use FreeCAD -> PyCam -> LinuxCNC.

xue_roger · January 30, 2014, 6:13pm

meshcam supports linux via wine. the licence also span to Mac

Sebastian_Kuzminsky · January 30, 2014, 6:21pm

@xue_roger : Cool, i did not know that. http://www.grzsoftware.com/users/linux-cnc/

Michal_Wilhelm_Jany · January 30, 2014, 9:26pm

@Pawel_Dobrowolski artcam looks nice, but it is not free.
I will try PyCam and FreeCAD. I also ready, on linuxcnc page, about using inkscape and some plugins to generate gcode, has anyone try it ?

Michael_Bridak_K6GTE · January 31, 2014, 2:44am

I’ve used Inkscape and makercam. Makercam will do most basic operations, profiles, pockets, drilling and tabs. It’s free and needs Flash. So YMMV.

Pawel_Dobrowolski · January 31, 2014, 7:08am

there is also dxf2gcode which you can integrate with linuxcnc. dxf2gcode generates on line passes, offsets and tool compensation you have to do at project.

Michal_Wilhelm_Jany · January 31, 2014, 8:11am

dxf2gcode looks good, I will try it. And no, I don’t use linuxcnc… I plan to use grbl on atmega filled with gcode through usb

Marcus_Wolschon · January 31, 2014, 9:07am

Working on improving FreeCAD

and it’s very early CAM module (not even remotely usable yet).
Until then I stay with a virtual machine with a cheap commercial CAD package and a hobby version of a cheaper, commercial CAM.

Michal_Wilhelm_Jany · January 31, 2014, 9:09am

I just install this dxf2gcode, but I can;t find where to set drill size for tools corrections

Pawel_Dobrowolski · January 31, 2014, 9:27am

There is no tool correction. This action you have to do manually in drawing.

Michal_Wilhelm_Jany · January 31, 2014, 10:14am

So what is this option for ?

https://plus.google.com/u/0/103557841892076129565/photos/photo/5975000362168631634?cfem=1

Michal_Wilhelm_Jany · January 31, 2014, 10:14am

And what is “cutter compensation” ?

Marcus_Wolschon · January 31, 2014, 10:40am

Compensating for the diameter of the cutter.
=> moving the path towards the outside or inside of the figure.

Makes no sense in engraving but only milling.

Jean_Lotz · February 2, 2014, 12:42am

Thanks for starting this thread. I’ve been researching what software is available in Linux and found a lot but none of it seems to be the answer to all situations. It really helps to hear what people are using from start to finish for their projects.

I just found this list of gcode generators for linux:
http://replicat.org/generators

also this link:
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Simple_LinuxCNC_G-Code_Generators

It is directed at people interested in 3D printing but we should be able to get some use out of these. Any comments?

Jean_Lotz · February 2, 2014, 12:50am

another group states we can create G-code in BlenderCAM and open using LinuxCNC (formerly EMC2) as simulator in Ubuntu 12.04LTS.

I’ve played with Blender and must confess that it is still very intimidating to me. But you don’t need to view it as just a 3d editor since I’ve also seen it used as a video editor. So I want to experiment with it by importing artwork created in easier graphic software programs then see what it takes to generate gcode with it. Anyone use BlenderCAM?