I’m sorry.
The first time, I don’t know, but estlacm doesn’t flashed the firmware correctly.
Now I tried again and now it’s OK
Thank you, vicious1!!!
Charles,
Cut2D looks pretty amazing as well. It really seems to do well with font handling. Does it work natively with MPCNC? Have you tried it yet? I see it has a guide for post-processor, but wasn’t sure if you already tried it with MPCNC and the Marlin that it comes with.
thnx
hsb
Hansang,
TLDR: Haven’t tried Cut2d with MPCNC.
Cut2d was an amazing piece of software for the price when I bought it. (I got it 5 years ago on a black friday special for 49$, normally 149$)
Some information, I purchased version 1.x (cant remember exactly) and qualified for a free upgrade to version 1.5 when it was released. I played around with generating gcode for the cnc I had setup at the time (Microcarve MV3, sadly John doesn’t make these anymore) Fast forward 5 years, and here is where I am.
I do not know if it works natively with MPCNC, as one, I have not finished my build yet. I have printed out all the parts, and it’s mostly assembled, but the bolts/hardware I ordered from albany county fasteners were the wrong ones. (I should have ordered regular hex heads, instead i ordered the ones that go in countersunk holes, resulting in them not being long enough. not to mention my printer doesn’t seem dimensionally accurate, I printed the “C” parts which I believe is for the 3/4" Conduit available here in the US, but everything is such a tight fit.
As for Cut2d now, Since they have switched to a “Desktop” (read: Limited features) vs “Pro” Package, I no longer can vouch for it. EstlCam seems to do everything my old Cut2d did and more. Sure the interfaces are a little different but both are very intuitive. Considering Vectric (Cut2d producers) probably has a whole slew of devs working for them, what Christian has done is AMAZING. As soon as my paycheck clears this weekend, I will be purchasing a license.
Hopefully this didn’t bore you lol i tend to get long winded.
Charles
Thank you Charles. I’m really liking Cut2D as UNDO function among other things. I’ll play around and see how far I get. I’ll start a new thread as I don’t want to hijack Christian’s ESTLCAM thread.
Christian: Thank you for adding support for Win10 dialogue boxes. It’s not cut off anymore.
Hansang
Hansang,
Have you looked here?
http://www.estlcam.com/e2_maus.php
“Backspace” is the equivalent to undo.
I want to clarify something, CUT2d is a CAD+Cam program. Estlcam seems to be Cam only. There is a big difference here as to workflow.
I’m just guessing here, but workflow for both programs would go as follows.
Cut2d (Draw part) -> Cut2d (Use built in tools for toolpath) -> Save as gcode using then run with machine control.
With Estlcam you would first draw your part in a CAD program such as Fusion360/FreeCad/Etc -> Estlcam (Load Drawing) -> Estlcam (generate toolpaths) -> (Depending on cnc controller choice) Run gcode from within Estlcam OR save as gcode and run on machine control.
I will be trying Estlcam with ramps tonight. Wish me luck lol!
Charles,
Yup, understand the differences in scope. I have a license of Christian’s ESTLCAM do find it useful. I’ve been doing the OnShape -> ESTLCAM -> Repetier. But I’m thinking Cut2D + Repetier may be a better fit for me.
Anyway, good luck with your test! I ordered some Z touch plates for zero’ing the Z axis during tool change. So wish me luck as well! 
Hansang
Im using the vectric software currently and it is amazing. However, the post processor does not appear to limit Z rapids and I’m getting no traction on my open thread about this.
Brian,
You can edit vetrics post processors, take a look at
http://forum.vectric.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6213
Unsure which version you are using, but that should be a good starting point.
RAPID_PLUNGE_TO_STARTZ = “YES”
I’m no coder though, but i’m pretty sure you can limit your max feedrate of any axis in the post processor.
How does estlcam work with ramps today - is it ready to try without lots of config and trials…
Joakim,
Disclaimer, I’m not using my setup on a MPCNC. However, that being said,
Last night I tried Estlcam with my ramps/custom pololu breakout boards, and I can say it was very easy to “plug and play” once you know appropriate settings for your setup. As my setup is a little custom, I had a hell of a time figuring out my proper settings because my leadscews are 12 Tooth per inch, and I want to run in mm. Once i got that figured out, the rest was really simple.
A quick tutorial based on my experience.
Make sure your ramps is connected to your computer, and that the computer has assigned a com port to it.
Open Estlcam.
Setup->CNC Controller.
select proper com port.
select Mega2560/Ramps 1.4
Change your settings to match what you want.
Steps per Revolution,
Distance per Revolution,
Max Feedrate,
Inertia,
etc
Any settings you are confused about, if you hover over them it will pop up a window explaining what the setting is, very helpful imo.
Click program, wait till it’s done and the CNC Controller window will pop up. Test your axis’s out using small movements first, find out if it’s accurate (I used a ruler and told each axis to move 10m using the console at the bottom of this window)
If any axis need to be inverted, go back to the cnc controller setup, click the boxes and click program again. wait, then test it out when the controller window pops back open.
It was pretty plug and play to me.
Charles
@ Christian Knuell
I’ve been learning on how to use Estlcam for a last few days and it seems like I’ll continue to use it.
It’s simple enough for me to learn it and advanced enough for all my needs.
I have a small request/wish/appeal and a question:
Is it possible to move “Error input”, “Probe Input” and “Spindle output” to AUX1 or AUX2 on RAMPS 1.4?
AUX4 and AUX3 are used for LCD display and SD card
Since it’s not always possible to have notebook by the CNC, LCD and SD card are quite useful.
I don’t know if Estlcam supports SD card yet but LCD comes handy in all situations.
A noob question would be: what is “Error input”?
Thank you!
Regards,
Walter
Thanks Charles for the info. I’ll make à try then.
Hello,
I agree with Walter, using the LCD in parallel would be a good thing.
But if I understand right, it would be necessary to implement LCD support in Estlcam firmware?
Regards,
Franz
Otherwise you have to reflash Marlin firmware each time for using LCD after using Estlcam
Hello,
I can’t get version 10 to upload the firmware to my Mega.
Marlin via the Arduino IDE = no problem
Firmware Estlcam 9 = no problem
Does anyone has a clue what I am doing wrong?
Cheers and tnx,
Kees
Try v10.012 (just adapt the download link). I had the same problem yesterday.
Yesterday I tried to use Estlcam as the controller - it worked but didn’t´t get the touchplate to function so I installed firmware RC7 on ramps again. But after that I get grinding sound from the Y-axis and it does not move. But suddenly It can start working again. But when I restart Arduino the grinding sound is back and the y-axis don´t move… I have checked all the connections but everything seems right and it worked flawless before Estlcam as controller. Do you have any idea for what the problem can be?
@Erik: Tnx, that did the job!
Hi,
I’ve changed a few things to get another controller working.
I’m not sure why some Mega2560 now won’t work with Estlcam anymore - I’ve tested with mine and it still works as usual.
Anyways I’ll try to fix this but it is mostly guesswork as I don’t have one of the affected Megas.
Christian
Hey Brian,
I have not had any response on my Vectric PP questions in the other thread either. Have you made any progress regarding Z rapids?
I have had a couple of “Z crashes” and I am seeing some weirdness regarding feed rates & X/Y rapids. My machine is moving VERY slowly when performing what I would expect to be a “rapid” movement. Also, making moderate changes to tool feed rate in Aspire does not result in VISIBLY slower feeds when cutting. I am going to try a ridiculously slow feed rate today to test and verify.
Other than that I am LOVING the Vectric apps.
Thanks.
S.