FreeCad and SheetCAM Come To The JD's Garage Plasma Table

[@jdsgarage701]

For more Information you can check out our website here. jdsgarage.bigcartel.com/

[@RonJones-k4p]

So I bought your plans and built your machine going on two years now. I have been running it that way since day one as I was already using freecad for my 3d modelling. I had played with the cam software in Freecad but it did not go very well. I tried a few different cam programs but there are very few dedicated plasma cam software programs. Honestly by buying sheetcam that will also run the rotary function to which I still have to build. It works very well. I find open builds to be the weak link.

[@RonJones-k4p]

I was starting to look at Putting together a mach 3 machine to run closed loop motors and drives. I wish I could write code. I would write the software to run GRBL off of a Raspberry or something stronger to be a turnkey touchscreen controller. Like the older 3d printers. Just throw a usb stick at it with the dfx file on it. ;) Also to add to what I am replying to. The cam software in Freecad is an add on. I do not remember what it was called. It has to be added and is not there by default. Also I have to give a MEGA THANK YOU!!! to Lou a gentleman that took mega personal time to write or find me the perfect post processor. Because even if I Figured out the cam bugs in freecad I would have still required a post for freecad which is another can of worms no one has opened. (I am sure Lou would have figured that out too!!!!!!!).

[@ryanconway250]

I use free cad for 3d prints..but i use ink scape and sheet cam for all my 2D plasma files. Sheet cam is totally worth the money! It also has a rotary plasma plugin for round and square tube. It has a ton of post processors that you can edit. You can even add things to your plasma table like a scriber or engraver to mark holes that need drilled for tapping or precise bend lines.. it's pretty handy for the money!

[@RonJones-k4p]

Too funny I just started using Ink scape and thought it could be cool for simple cuts.

[@jakelords24]

This is what I do for mine. It's possible on freecad. I also use tinkercad and sheetcam. Tinkercad is great for designing parts and the learning curve is great. I use Fusion free edition the least. Thanks for the updates!

[@JRPlasma]

I have copied this example but once the g-code is loaded into open builds it only brings in the square and just the lead in for the circle. When I run the simulation it cuts the lead in/outs and only the corners of the square which it seems to have added a small radius too. Any idea's on why it is not picking up the geometry?

[@777smitty4]

I been at it for months no good options now hopefully something that doesn’t cost a fortune will come along

[@kwaaaa]

Just another free CAM alternative is openbuilds cam, it is web-based and it has a plasma option. I have used this on my own DIY plasma CNC.

[@slappynutsphd]

This works great for engraving on my CNC. When my machine is done I will give it a run.

[@slappynutsphd]

If you are using freecad as your cad for open builds cam, you need to export sketch as SVG and then when you get to open builds you need to scale it up 1.0666%. I don't know why this cam has issues with the SVG, but that will make it work for you. Other than that, it works very well. I cut my first useful parts today (radiator brackets).

[@Hollywood4Fun]

I'm putting together a very basic CNC plasma table from scratch. 1000mm x 500mm v-groove extrusions make up the frame. The gantry is also a 500mm v-groove extrusion. Both x and y axis are belt driven. I would like to have a z axis as well and that will probably be threaded rod driven. I'm okay with assembling the mechanical components but I'm no programmer and I'm wondering where to start when it comes to setting up a control system. I was wondering if you can offer some tips to make this part of the build a bit easier for me. I have seen controllers harvested from laser cutters used on these small DIY plasma projects, but I'm not sure if many desktop lasers have z-axis control. Any advice or tips that can get me over the controller portion of this build would be greatly appreciated. I have heard that HF interference can be an issue and that ferrite choke rings on wires are a good idea. Where to place such rings is unkown to me. My projects will be mostly heavier brackets and maybe some 1/8 inch thick signs. Any help on how to wire a controler for such a project will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the info and the videos. It all helps. Subscribed. [e-mail]

[@goodwinml]

Maybe another rabbit hole. I have 2 cnc routers. I use Vectric Aspire for my cad. .stl and .svg files I I am in the process of learning Fusion 360 but was thinking why reinvent the wheel. Asprire has post processors. Just would have to figure out which one.

[@RogerR-g7j]

Great I have weak internet in shop. Thx

[@danialhowe9814]

COREL works too. get an old copy on ebay

[@MultiLEGODOG]

thanks!

[@fuhfjffuufgu8818]

👌

[@guinsou2000]

This one is for me I''m a freecad addict. I tried to use postprocessor on freecad for plasma but there is no native plasma tool in freecad. It seems to be possible to tweek your own tool using macro or something like that but i could'nt find out how to do it on my research. If someone has any informations or tutorial for Freecad postprocessor using plasma torch with Z parameters like fusion i'm realy interested too.

[@stukyu]

I think there is someone on the Freecad forum who has adapted a laser cut postprocessor and reading between the lines on that forum it is a simple task if you can program in Python. I can't, it's taken me 6 months to get to grips with using the design side but I too am now exploring the tool path side and I know it can process for GRBL.

[@guinsou2000]

@@stukyu I can't program on Python either. and I won't jump into that rabbit hole For a Z. I think i better use inkscape or buy Sheet cam like @ryanconway250 suggest.

[@tomsgarage1]

I use freecad for my diy plasma cutter/process. I modified a postprocessor but I use qtplasmac (linuxcnc) for control which takes over all of the z-axis moves. It took a bit of hacking to understand the postprocessor.

[@stukyu]

@@tomsgarage1 Hi Tom Any chance you can go into greater detail and if possible share the modified postprocessor ? Thanks

[@guinsou2000]

I finaly export dxf from freecad, clean it with Librecad and create polylines (inkscake should also do the trick) then I import the final dxf on fusion360 for the postprocess and use it only for that purpose. It seems that cambam can handle plasma settings aswell. any feedback?

[@scott2735]

I've not used my cutter for over a year but fired it up today and all my g code files won't load on sheetcam, I can't even get it to load a dfx file 😢

[@chriscorbett4522]

Same here. Have you figured anything out?

[@scott2735]

@chriscorbett4522 I've switch to fusion 360. You can design and produce the g code all in one program. It's easy to use and you can cut more than 180 lines of code. There's plenty of youtube vids explaining how to use fusion 360 for plasma cutting although you will need a custom file for the mach3 post process.i can send you that if you need it.

[@chriscorbett4522]

@scott2735 that would be great! Thanks

[@scott2735]

@chriscorbett4522 if you send me your email address I will send you the mch3 post processer file.