Are there any good tutorials actually using the machine? I can get by in tinker cad and going from model to finished product on 3d printer is so straight forward but for some reason throwing CAM software in place of the slicer is just making my brain melt cause I haven’t gotten anything to work for a couple of days.
I found some fusion 360 videos that seemed to make sense but my fusion 360 won’t download the machine profiles for some reason so I have t been able to test any of that out.
EstlCAM is significantly easier to get started with.
I would start here https://docs.v1e.com/software/estlcam-basics/
Fusion 360 CAM has a bigger learning curve, so if you are struggling to make some headway, EstlCAM is an easier starting point.
Have a look at the Use section in the docs. Take your time and read though it. They are really helpful
I must be pretty dense cause I have read through and tried following those with no luck.
Thought I had estlcam figure out just now but no dice when I load it into Reporter host is moved to the starting point and then just stops with an unknown gcode command.
I’m not familiar with Repetier host, and am a noob in CNC world, but I actually find the CAM part simpler and more controllable than dealing with my 3d printer.
Sure it’s more manual to set the job up, but there’s less variables.
Post some more details about what you are trying to do and maybe we can help get you over the hump.
So you’re running the cnc with estlcam also?
I saw it had a cnc controller but I couldn’t get it to connect to the cnc. So I figured since the docs said to use repetier-host to send it that was the preferred method.
No, I use EstlCAM to create GCode, then run it from the SD card
And I’m just trying to cut a circle out of plywood. But I don’t really care what the project is. Just trying to learn the process.
It blows my mind how difficult I’m finding this to be. I mean theoretically it should be just as simple as 3d printing the z axis is just moving down instead of up.
So is it the tool path setup you are struggling with? Or controlling the machine once the tool paths are defined?
Did you do the setup in Estlcam for your machine?
Which controller are you running?
Everyone sees things from different perspectives. I found the EstlCam interface confusing at first and in retrospect I have no idea why. I would be using EstlCAM because it’s the go-to round here, but it’s not easy to do on my Mac, so I stumbled across Kiri:Moto. It might get you through your current “stuck”.
Have a look at the documents page and try the Kiri instructions. I found that the graphic interface just suited my brain better. Once I was on top of that I had (I think) gained enough knowledge to understand what was going on elsewhere.
All CAM programs do the same things but perhaps a different interface will get you through the learning curve.
Yes I believe set it up correctly. I think I may delete the program and start over from scratch.
Controller is SKR Pro
I think it’s both honestly. I seem to have gotten a tool path defined for the plywood circle but I’m not sure how easily I could do it again.
I gave your sd card route a go but the controller wouldn’t show me there was a file on the card. So I gave up for the night.
Thanks I will definitely check this out because I would much prefer to work from my Mac if I’m being honest.
Let me know if I can help - I’m a long way from being an expert, but I am certainly on the same path!
I found Kiri:Moto to be very easy to figure out.
The animated preview shows exactly what I hope my machine does.
Now I just have to figure out how to get my gcode to actually load and run on the cnc. Any tips on headless mode? When I put my micro se card in the control board slot it sees the card but shows nothing on it. When I put it in the sd card slot on the lcd it doesn’t even see the card.
What file extensuon did you give it?
Marlin doesn’t like .nc extensions and doesn’t show you files that it doesn’t think it can run.
Try using filename.gcode or filename.gco and see if it recognizes it.
It did spit out .nc for the filename. I’ll try changing it and give it a go tomorrow. Thanks guys!!
Repetier host can “help you out” by adding some gcode commands to jobs that it generates, but sometimes this ends up doing things TO you instead of doing things FOR you. Check the “printer configuration” to make sure it’s not adding things you don’t want (like constantly reporting the hot-end temperature) - some of this is goverened by check boxes on the printer setup page. You can also view (and edit) the gcode in Repetier Host before sending it to the machine and comment out whatever line the status report is showing is an unknown command.
If you took an existing 3D printer and used it as the basis for a Repetier Printer Setup, it might be worth trying to build a new one from scratch that doesn’t include any 3D printing “features.”