Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Basics of "starting system?"

mach2dude@... wrote:

>
> I thought that I'd ask a general CNC "starting out" question. My questions
> are imbedded in the objectives. Thanks in advance to any/all that reply.
>
> Objective: Be able to produce a CNC generated object. (Eg. small model boat
> hull, 60" in length). I'd like to be able to "build the object" on CAD
> software (what type is best?) from a hard copy of 3 view plans. Then I wish
> to have the ability to take this CAD image (what type is best to generate?
> .dxf?) and "load it into CNC" file (What software is best to accomplish
> this?) and cut a small boat hull out of foam. I anticipate using a hotwire
> setup for this.

Software programs, especially those that support 'soft' curves such as
NURBs (for example, Rhino ) allows you to import 'stations', then fit
smooth surfaces to them (like the surface of a boat or aircraft hull).

Cutting arbitrary 3D shapes with tensioned hotwire is possible for some
objects, but the software is expensive ie many$K).

Probably your best bet is to: generate a surface, export the surface
as an STL file, use the STL file to generate GCode for a 3D mill, then
mill the boat hull.

So the machine you want to build is a 3D router, not a 4 axis tension
hotwire cutter!

Hope this helps...

regards
Doug Fortune
http://www.cncKITS.com













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