Hi!
Where can I get the gcode for CNC milling the plates for the Lowrider 2?
The packages on thingiverse contain dxf files for the flat parts. You can use ESTLCAM to make gcode out of it.
So I’m a newbie to CNC milling! Don’t so far know anything about ESTLCAM, but can find things on the internet of course about it.
Will the .dxf files be 1:1 when converting them to gcode using EXTLCAM without messing up the measurements?
Maybe some alreday have gone trough this and have the ready gcode files for it and are willing to post it?
Gcode for CNC milling is not like gcode for 3D printing. It isn’t a conversion from one format to another, you are doing CAM, which is the process of creating toolpaths and managing the feeds, and depths of cut. It is specific to the type of bit you are using and the material and the machine.
Do you already have a cnc machine?
If you want a tutorial on estlcam, you can look at the estlcam basics doc. And the milling basics.
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I building the excellent small CNC Dremel, design by Nikodem Bartniks described here, https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-3D-Printed-Dremel-CNC/, 1st and 2nd I will build the Lowrider2!
All parts acquired for both machines, except the plates for the Low.2.
"The small one for small projects and the big one… "
Anyway I thought to mill the plates would be a good practice to learn CNC, but I don’t know how to compile 2d milling from .dxf files! Therfore the reach out in the forum. I can easily make them by hand but wanted to mill them as by the above reason,
The little CNC use Arduino Uno r3 and shield loaded with the GRBL firmware. Material will be Wood or Acrylic. Bits as in the picture 1/8"
You will need to read about it in milling basics and estlcam basics. It is not possible for someone else to make the file for you. Besides, once it is done, the very next thing is for you to make another file. This is part of the CNC process.
The estlcam settings should be close enough for grbl. In most cases, Marlin is more strict than grbl. You can do this whole project with the 1/8" bit. No need for tool changes.
The CAM process is much more than “compiling” the file. It is part of the design.
I’m reading of course those subjects, but can’t just now say I understand everything, for example you wrote in your answer “CAM process” meaning?
All 3 type bits are 1/8"s, but I assume that you mean the upcut one to the furthest right on the pic?
CAM is computer assisted machining I believe. It’s calculating the depth of cut, milling speed, plunge speed, depth of material and putting it all into a gcode file. Since the machine and bit are essential to the calculations, you can’t use pre generated gcode.
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Everyone has given you good, complete answers. I’m just popping in to say that I love your enthusiasm. Building a cnc and buying all the parts to build another cnc before you even learn how to use the first cnc? You’re incredible! It’s a bumpy road, longer for some than others, but I can’t wait to see the things you start churning out!
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Thx! I’ve always bee fascinated with CNC’s remembering a friend working in a machine shop in the early 80’s and they had a big commercial CNC with the computers of the day and a lot of manual inputting! Now you can 3d print parts and buy h’ware to make’n affordable small or big CNC in your garage with ready available stuff worldwide! Amazing! And today with modern software, what a difference! Just a side note! 
Anyway I tried ESTLCAM per instructions and think I made something that might actually work in the CNC i building. Anyway a loadable file was created and the shape looks good on the workspace of the milling program, in my case CNCjs.
I’m running the steppers on the table and they so far behave good, I don’t know if the orientation is right but that will of course be obvious when the CNC is assembled!
A question though as per the pic’s, will the bit be in the middle of the path decreasing the part with whatever radius the milling bit have or will it just be right on the edge of the line?
If not how do you set the bit so it cuts on the edge of the perimeter?
Generally the tool path shows you the path of the center of the cutting bit. It’s up to your CAM package (estlcam in this case) to take the cutting bit diameter (and shape) into account and adjust the tool path appropriately (as it generates it).
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Hi again!
How can I rotate the 2d piece, in my case the 611 and Y plate so the longest cut will be in the y axis direction, since the small CNC i will use is to short in the x axis direction, so the piece doesn’t fit unless I can rotate it 90 degrees.
In estlcam or the cncjs or ugs or before that in a CAD program?
Because when loading the .dxf file in estlcam it is alreday oriented so the longest milling cut will be in the X direction not Y, as seen in the pic above of the Y plate where the red line is the X axis!
Grateful for any help how to!
Estlcam has a rotate feature. You might need to create the milling paths first, can’t remember.
Thx! I think I got it now!
How do I set the exact milling area aka workspace in cncjs?
You jog to the origin and send G92 X0 Y0 Z0.