CNC Information | Learn CNC | CNC Programming G-Code

Hi all. I've been looking at CNC router to add to my shop but before hand I need to learn what the best programmers are and then learn to program. I'd appreciate all the advice that I can get to get me started. If the first question is what do I want to do, well, ultimately I want to do most anything as I am quite an adventurist. Start with woodworking projects and eventually make parts and items from vatious ­meta­ls.

I don't even know what Q to ask first. I think a CNC gadget is a tool that will take sweat and time out of your hands and do the job while you sit and look at it.
I have a fully equiped workshop with all the tools for ­meta­l and wood. I built a few airplanes and a lot of other stuff over the years.
Electronics and computers are also part of my hobby's.
Can I build most of the gadgets I will need for this new venture?

Dear violationx , I've started with MACH3 as a control software for cnc and now I try MasterCam9 (trial version - can't afford to buy it)
Arnie , lucky you for that workshop. Will you accept an advice from me as a beginner? TAKE IT SLOWLY AND DON'T LET IT DOWN as I do.....

We were all NewBee's at one time!

I started with CNC about a year ago. I now have a full line of Experimental Airplane parts that I build and sell. See my site at: http://www.mykitairplane.com

I use CamBam to draw my items and then produce the GCode. I run my mill with Mach3 and have also created a neat screen set for Mach3 as well. You can see it at http://www.mrrace.com/SimpleMill/

If I can answer any additional questions or be of any help please let me know.

George

With all U exp. guys out there,what would be the very first things to do when building a CNC.
Are there any detailed plans around? I have sripped many old electronic gadgets and got some nice stepper motors of all sizes. Plenty old printer shafts, sprockets and chains etc. Can it be used.
H-a-n-d
Arnie

Hi Again Arnie:
I considered building my mill from scratch. I got a couple of DVD's that have full plans for each and every piece to make. But the more I studied what could be built and considered the overall cost and time involved I started thinking about taking an easy way out. I wanted a sturdy ­frame­ and good steppers and electronics that could be put together once and for all and then be used without worrying about trying to keep a home built mill operating properly.

I ended up with a KT2514 from K2CNC, just their basic ­frame­ set, ready to go. I purchased the steppers and electronics kit from HobbyCNC. For a spindle I purchased a Bosch 2.5 HP router. There are pictures at my site of the completed system.

I invested less then $3000 including all the licensed software I mentioned in a previous post. It has been a very solid reliable system, and all I do is turn it on and use it. I have been cutting aluminum parts now for just about 2 years, and so far have not had any problems with the overall system. Accuracy and repeatability are key to everything that I make. So far I am very pleased with what I put together.

What ever you end up doing, you are going to have a ball with your own CNC.

George