Re: Could it be this easy? (Yes.)

You might look into Meshcam. It's reasonably priced, has a full
working demo and I think designed to do exacly what you asked:

http://www.robgrz.com/meshcam.phtml

I have no affiliation to the publisher et. al.

Jeff

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Ibbitson"
<pulseweld@d...> wrote:

> Whilst we are on the subject can anyone tell me if/how i can turn

3D Studio

> Max nurbs based objects into g code?.
>
> I have tried converting them to dfx files which is fine but its

always 2d

> and i wanted to try some 3d stuff.
>
> Cost as always rears its ugly head and since i have 3D Studio and

am already

> fairly familier with using it I would really only require a

converter or

> something?.
>
> Nick
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ballendo" <ballendo@y...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 5:31 AM
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Could it be this easy? (Yes.)
>
>
> > Troy,
> >
> > With a small change, Yes it can be done. Whether you have to wake

up

> > from your dream depends upon what you're dreaming of doing<G>
> >
> > First, the small change...
> >
> > MS Paint and PSP are pixel based drawing programs. You need to

use a

> > vector based drawing program for best results. We'll come back to
> > pixels in a moment. Fortunately a very good, very inexpensive

vector

> > drawing program is widely available and well-supported: CorelDraw!
> >
> > In the engraving and sign business, Coreldraw! is used

extensively.

> > So there are MANY programs to convert from corel to CNC. Some use

the

> > plotter output (HPGL), and others use the Corel file directly.

They

> > can range from free to cheap to more expensive than many can pay.
> >
> > Anyway, once you've drawn your square, you can use a controller

like

> > Mach2 or Flashcut or Kcam to import the lines and create gcode.

All

> > three of these programs can be used in demo mode to real work.
> > Although not totally seamless, as in your description, it can

become

> > pretty easy and automatic...
> >
> > If you want to use MS Paint or PSP, you'll need to use a bitmap
> > import. And those that I'm aware of are expensive, except for the

one

> > included with Mach2. But these will generally "assume" that it's a
> > picture you're importing, and these assumptions will not likely
> > create the output you desire. But it can be done.
> >
> > It will be easier using a vector based drawing program. (Note that
> > vector is not capitalised. I'm talking of the vector file type,

not

> > the CAM program of the same name.)
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> >
> > Ballendo
> >
> > P.S. Lcam by Larken is a combination drawing/machine control

program.

> > I understand the same to be true of DeskCNC, though I have no
> > personal experience with it. (Deskam I have used, and DeskCNC is

VERY

> > similar<G>). There are others, more expensive, and you may find it
> > worthwhile to use one of these fully integrated drawing/machine
> > control programs to get closest to your "dream"...
> >
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, <testfly@a...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Let me tell you what I want to do and someone tell me if it can

be

> > done.
> > >
> > > I want to open say MSpaint or paint shop pro and use the drawing
> > tools in
> > > there to just click and draw a 2D shape. Say a square. Then I

would

> > like to
> > > print that as I can using my printer. Simple and easy right?

Sure

> > it is...
> > > However what I would really like to do is to be able to save

that

> > drawing
> > > and then feed it to my CNC table and have it move my router so

it

> > cuts out
> > > the shape rather then put it on paper. I could set the drawing

tool

> > to mark
> > > a 1/4" line on my paper and if the cutting bit was 1/4" then

WAL-LA

> > I have a
> > > simple way to cut simple shapes.
> > >
> > > Can this be done or should I wake up from my little dream here?
> > > Using XP and win 98. Be nice If I could do things up in XP on my
> > computer
> > > and then run the cnc with laptop (win 98).
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > > Troy
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Addresses:
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> >
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