Re: more questions for a confused newbie :)

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., pkranger63@y... wrote:

>
> So the drawing of the part I make in the CAD program of my choice

is

> used as a refrence as to where to make the tool paths? Am I
> converting the drawing of the part to G-code or just the toolpath
> drawing to G-code or both?
>
> Thanks again
> Matt

Matt,
I started out using Autocad and Ace converter. Had the same question
as you. Tried converting a drawing to G-code.. It DID, including the
dimension lines, text, etc. OOPs.(g) What seemed to work best was to
make the drawing as usual, then use the 'offset' command to draw a
toolpath that is offset by the tool radius. Put each toolpath on a
separate layer. Then when you go to Ace, it is straight forward
to convert a layer at a time, allowing for tool changes and so on
in between.
You will have to do some hand editing to set feedrates, maybe
move some lines around to get things to cut in the order that you
want and so on.
A better bet is to use a package that is designed from the ground up
for CNC. (I choose Vector, but there are others) You can draw the
part, toolpath and G-code without having to import DFX files and the
problems that seem to go along with them. (Too many different versions
and they change constantly). Also a nice feature, (at least with
Vector) is that you can specify your driver software, in my case
CncPro, and the G-code is tailored accordingly.
Hope this helps,
Al