Beginners guide to desktop CNC software
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- What software should I use??? Well this video explains some of the different CNC software required at each stage to get your ideas into from your head into real life CNC pieces.
Intro 00:00
Process 01:30
Free design and CAM software 02:45
Best design software 08:08
Control software 13:55
Laser software 17:41
Vector software 18:35
Round up 20:15
Carveco Maker link and 5% discount code is JAMESDEANDESIGNS
store-us.carveco.com/?ref=JDD...
90 day trial
store-us.carveco.com/products...
Other software:
Easel - easel.inventables.com/
Carbide Create - carbide3d.com/downloads/
Fusion 360 - www.autodesk.co.uk/products/f...
Vcarve - www.vectric.com/products/vcar...
Candle - github.com/Denvi/Candle
UGS - winder.github.io/ugs_website/
Openbuilds - software.openbuilds.com/
Lightburn - lightburnsoftware.com/
I have recently set up a Patreon page to help keep making tutorials and keep my RUclips channel moving forward.
/ jamesdeandesigns
If you want to help but do not want to become a Patreon, you con contribute directly:
www.paypal.me/jamesdeandesigns
Some product links I use are affiliate links. This means they do not cost you any more but I might make a small commission in return which helps towards making these videos.
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Thanks James, good stuff! Really glad you mentioned the cutting size on VCarve!
Wow. Great content. After a day of scouring the internet for help in finding software for my new machine, to find everything I needed in one place was a relief. Thanks again for the information.
After watching a few videos on You Tube , I bought the Vevor 3018 , and thanks to James Dean Design, I am finding it simple to use .
I just have to get my head around the G code
Thanks James looking forward to more tutorials
I am so glad I found your video!. It has helped me to find a software and make a decision as I get into CNC for the first time! Thanks
Great explanation, I was a bit struggling with some topics earlier but you made them very clear…thank you 👍
Thank you for the guidance. I've been frustrated learning fusion 360. Because of this video, I'll give Carveco Maker a try and feel enthusiastic. BTW I also like UGS.
I love it when I find the perfect video answering questions that pop into my head.
Thank you for your time.
Glad its helped 😁
Great video. I have learned more from you than all the other youtubers combined. If you have time, a series on Carveco Maker would be greatly appreciated.
Thats great to hear and yes, a series on Carveco is definitely on my todo list
Just starting out in CNC and watched 5 of your videos and now everything is becoming so clear. Thanks James. Great tutorials.
I hope so 👍
I really appreciate how you explain the software programs available to use for CNC machining! Thanks for your tutorial videos
Glad it helped 😁
Very in-depth. I enjoyed that James. Thanks. Jim
Brilliant video! Thanks for all this wonderful information, definitely gives the viewer some options to consider when moving forward with their CNC endeavors.
Glad it was helpful!
Brilliant video as always James. You're really informative, fair, honest. Keep these helpful videos coming please 👍
Great video. I use G simple for my labels and small parts. And its easy to use and free
Really good video, excellent advice. Very clear and well produced.
Very extensive and comprehensive! I highly appreciate it.
A very well-produced video and informative and concise. The editing at 6.19 was similar to the Fast Show " Jazz Club" Nice!
Great video and lots of great information. i have setup easel and having a play now loos great and a good place to start for a beginner- thank you for the open view on all software available. Keep on inspiring!
Glad its helped
Thanks for a very helpful video. (Just ordered my first machine.)
Brilliant! I've learned more in 22 minutes here than I learned doing internet and youtube searches for several hours. My bad. Please don't quit. Great information!
Glad it helped!
Incredibly helpful video as usual James. I watched this one 2 or 3 times, making notes as I went along and breaking out at each stage to download and decide on the software I was going to use. I wouldn't even have a CNC if it wasn't for the support and guidance of your RUclips channel.. 👍👍👍
Thanks Mark
@ MarkSweet - same here , i second your comment , im glad there's a community sharing the knowledge, thank you for helping us james!
As always James, superb, thanks.
Thanks for your vids mate. I’m (nervously) waiting for my CNC now and figured I’d study a few of your videos. I was a little confused on the function of each software but the way you explained each was top notch. Thanks!
Excellent. Grasping some of the basics will certainly help you once your machine is built. Hope all goes well with the build
hey mate, I am in your 6months position ago now. I am waiting my first CNC and Laser engraving now. now is searching for which app is suitable for my job.
i just bought a CNC machine and ur video is awsome
Excellent video!!! Very informative. I wish a had an opinion to offer, but I am very much the novice in the world of CNC.
Far and above, the best tutorials available anywhere. With your guidance, I'm saying there's a chance.
Thank you. It's always good to hear people are finding them useful 👍
Wow, I'm impressed by the massive amount of information in this video. I made it up to the end (and now I have a headache LOL)
The information is very clear. (just now I noticed this is an "old" video) What I miss is a visual recap in the end, A kind of schedule/table with the most important information.
But maybe you did that in a later video. I didn't check it. Thanks for sharing the video in any case.
I founded this channel by coincidence and fell in love. Useful content, good explanations and for a non-native speaker an easy to understand accent. You are great.
Thank you. People usually complain about my accent 😄
@@JamesDeanDesigns To me it's really easy to understand, I would even say that makes it's easier than others. Sometimes with technical stuff, I need to make use of youtube captions but with you I don't have that need.
Don't let haters and trolls dictate how you should speak or make you feel bad, you are doing great and your videos are helpfull.
Much needed information - just not available a few years back so -thanks for the effort!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank JD, really helped me out a lot with various software's to choose from.
Glad it helped
This is a briliant guide, thank you so much for all the details, very nicely put :)
Thank you 😁
Great Video with a ton of information. Great explanations of how and why. Great presentation skills to boot.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks James for clearing some of the fog for a 76yo CNC newbie. Just built an 800 x 800 CNC from 17mm alum plate etc. and now sorting out the electronics and software. Never too old to learn!!! I think I will go with VCARVE as I have a philosophy that if an old version of software does what you want then why go with the upgrades of 2 headlights instead of one, 4 wheel disk breaks if 2 work fine :-) Except when Microsoft will not let you run your 97 version of Autocad on Windows 10 Grrrrr!. All the best, great job. Mike Tasmania Australia.
Glad it has helped...and wow what a project to under take. Nice one 👍
Very informative, great job !! Thank you👍🏻
Good timing, just managed to get my new 3018 Pro up and running :)
Hope it helped
At last a video that helps me know what I have got into. Having just got a 3018 pro and not being able to do a thing with it, I understand now why.
Yes, the software can be a bit tricky, but once you understand each part it comes together. Hope it helped
Excellent video. Thank you
Having been messing with a 3018 cnc kit my dad ordered 3 weeks ago I can say this is all great advice. I started with candle and moved to ugs. Easle has been fun but my trial is up soon and I hate the subscription model so it's great to know there is a decent one time buy option out there.
This would have saved me hours of time had I seen it first.
Glad its helped
Great video! Very informative! Thank you!!
James your a total star and as a newbie your videos are very much appreciated.. I just wondered if you could share how you made your thread rod covers in this video.. Many thanks..
Another great video James. 1 point you didn't mention is the ability to "pause" the subscription with carveco maker 😉
Because I didn't know that. I havent needed to pause but thats good info 👍
Really helpful thanks. Have just bought tiny desktop machine.....don't even know what make! Ta jim
This was a brilliant presentation. You anticipated all my questions and answered the well. I had already developed similar feelings about the various programs. I usedmUG/S to calibrate my machine with calipers. It makes a huge difference. I really appreciate you being there. I’m 80mand just starting in cnc, but imhave a broad background in 3D design with such software as Zbrush. The learning curve there I extremely steep, but img what you can do.
Thank you for the kind words.
I would love to learn 3D design at some point, it's one of my goals
Just was wondering what cnc you are starting out with Thanks Bill
Thanks for the video James! This answers my facebook question exactly!
Glad it helped 👍
Great Channel James Dean, you have a gift for explaining things. Great Work... and Thank you for taking the time to make all these videos.
Great video Thanks for sharing!
Extremely useful info. Thank you!
Glad it helped 👍
I'm glad there's closed captions. I wouldn't have known what, "Duhzoin" was!
Very solid vid - just subbed !
Thanks for posting this comparison. I've only had my 3018 for three months so still learning. Currently using free Easel, UGS and Inkscape. As you mentioned, Inkscape is very useful to get access to many fonts. I have found it is necessary to press control, shift C (on a Mac) on the text in Inkscape before exporting svg file so that Easel will import it. I'm happy with this combination of software for now. I dislike the concept of subscription software. Your vids are some of the most helpful I've found for beginners.
I used to be dead against it as well. Ive used Adobe software for over 15 years and they were one of the first companies to switch, it really frustrated me. But I can now see the advantages, particularly the fact its more accessible. For example to buy the Adobe master collection was over £2000 before they switched and then went to about £40 a month and you got all the upgrades so more people could afford it. I hate the thought of stopping paying and losing all your work though 😒
@@JamesDeanDesigns Yeah, at 15 years you are committed to whatever Adobe chooses. Long live open source. I use a lot of it on my Mac.
great video
i use design spark to do the 3d drawing and cambam for cam although cambam is a bought software at €108 but works very will with design spark
i am using a 3020 cnc and i can not use easel to do the cam for the design
it will not work with the cnc i only use the cnc for making buildings items for my model railway layout
great information from you as usual
UGS works on Raspberry Pi. I use it with remote desktop through wifi, great combo.
Parametric just means that it uses "Parameters" is one way to remember it. Where parameters are basically named variables. So you could, instead of saying "make this edge 12mm long," say "make this edge 'height' long" and set a parameter named height to 12mm. That way you can base other things on that parameter and change it later and everything using it will change with it. Hope that makes sense.
thankyou so much for the information and link to carveco maker 89 day trial saved my life!
We're just about to enter the CNC world - your videos have been an absolute godsend making things so much clearer, thank you so much. Carveco wasn't even on our radar, but that's what we'll go for - link used 👍👍
Glad to help!
Great video as usual Dean. Any chance you could do a video on Tiling. That is CNC a design that fits between the gantry of the machine but extends way beyond the ‘depth’ restriction of a given machine. You move the workpiece as you carve each section of the job. I would love to know the workflow involved,
Great video!! Thank you!
No problem 👍
Another great video Dean, I've been a subscriber of carveco for a while now and I'm very happy with what it can do and I use candle for my g-code but I'm tempted to try UGS as I like the idea of having a seperate adjustment for the Z axis to the XY axis as I have made that mistake of driving my spindle into my bed, lesson learned 😀
Impressive guidance!!!
Thank you 👍
Thanks for shortening my learning curve... ❤😊
My pleasure 😊
Through experience i didnt like easel due to made my machine go clunky when moving, sounded like it was jamming up on the axies this is before it even went down onba z axies . The demo which came with it didnt jam. For the lazer engraving and cutting, light burn is very nice to work with ,no issues on a usb .using creativity lazer cutter. I am currently learning fusion 360 on the free year trial .
Parametric 3D modelling software is when one of the parameters of the sketched shapes used for the base of the model can be changed and the model will automatically alter all other linked parameters.
For example, you could change the width of the base of a pyramid from 5mm to 10mm, if the height has been determined through a parameter that it is always double the length of the base, it would automatically alter from 10mm to 20mm. The shape would not need all measurements to be altered individually.
Hope my explanation is clear.
Great videos btw, I'm currently expanding my maker knowledge and have a PROVerXL waiting to be built when I have made space.
Thats a great explanation and I now know what it mean 😁
@@JamesDeanDesigns G’Day Dean. A further small clarification is still read. “AutoCAD” is still a plain old bog standard cad software, where you must draw it to the correct size, right from the start, just like free packages. Parametric modelling is used in a different Autodesk product, Namely “Inventor”. Or some might remember it first being used in the old discontinued software called “Mechanic Desktop”. It should be pointed out that Parametric modelling programs like Inventor and Solid works (a very worthy competitor) are designed for 3d solid modelling, whilst AutoCAD is very much a 2d environment, 3d is possible, but not useful in this regard.
I hope this helps.
Finding these videos invalueable as looking into starting with cnc .Do you do a video about machines and do you recommend a starter machine
I got into cnc with beyric and mach3 about ten years ago . Vetric was great but now they limit you to 24 x 24 unless you pay a considerable amount. 100 quid isn't one think but I think it's over 400 for unlimited bed size.
great advices ....... appreciat it
Glad it helped 👍
This really helps me in making my decision about whether to renew my Carveco licence or switch to something else. Thank you.
Glad its helped 👍
Affinity Designer is an amazing Vector Base Software similar to Adobe Illustrator that is just as powerful but only has a one time cost for it. I think it is like $50. It is an amazing piece of software. I use it for all of my Laser Engraving Designs and then export them into Lightburn.
I agree and the new version is even better. Adobe is way too expensive for the average user.
I have used Inkscape for all of my 2d designs for my cnc plasma cutter. Now I'm looking to start milling plastic with my router table. Thanks for the overview of the different software packages - that helps. Can they export into MACH3 which I already have a licensed version of, rather than UGS or Open Build?
Such a great and informative video! you got the like and subscribe!
Awesome, thank you!
Great video
Very helpful videos 👍
Thank you 👍
Great vid, only just recently discovered your channel and I've spent hours trawling RUclips for decent info, unfortunately most of is has been useless or the narrator just waffles on and on...and on (americans)., so glad I came across your channel. Anyhoo, I've had the mechanical parts for a cnc router for a few years, but only just made up the machine (I dropped you a message on one of your other vids, thanks for helping out). I'm now at the electronics stage and my head is BATTERED, Been on a couple of forums and been getting conflicting info or no info at all, so I'll apologise in advance for my up coming barrage of questions. Cheers. 😊😊 mick
Hi James, I'm a complete newbie to the CNC world and your videos have got me up and running. Great job!! Of interest, I installed Candle on my new Windows 11 PC and found it kept 'crashing'. This forced me to use UGS that I've found runs without problems on Windows 11.
Great video! Your video helped alleviate some of the anxiety associated with the "realm of the unknown." I am brand new to CNCs, etc. I do not own a CNC, yet. As far as a computer goes, I own a MacBook Pro. With that being said, I was going to use Parallels desktop in order to install Windows onto my machine, so I can use Carveco Maker. Have you heard of any issues associated with doing so? Also, do you have a video about the different ways to connect a CNC to a computer, i.e., USB or other ports? I've read that USB connects are inferior/unreliable.
That was a great primer. I just built a CNC machine and I'm running an MKS DLC V2.1 board. I didn't buy the display just the board, but everything is moving as it should in open builds control. What do I have to figure out next is how to enable the Wi-Fi on the control board. Any advice? This is my first foray into CNC machines and related hardware and software. I've learned a tan over the last 2 weeks. I'm going to use my machine for plasma cutting. Thanks. Subscribed.
Hi James,
I'm impressed with the quality and detail of your videos and the level of knowledge being shared. I have a couple If questions for you.
I noticed that you didn't mention EZCad (2 or 3). Is this because it's mainly aimed at laser work?
I'm right on the cusp of ordering a Vasco and hopefully a 3D MOPA Galvo laser unit as well.
I'm told that the 3D galvo will not run Lightburn, which is a bit if a bummer, so I will have to go the EXCad 3 route.
Following your advice on this video, I'll be going the route of Maker by CarveVo and UGS.
At this moment I'm not sure where EZCad 3fits into this re cnc work, or even it can?
Your vids are so helpful that you pushed me to order the 3018 Prover which just arrived.
I've been playing with Easel and it seems very intuitive and straight forward even for my old brain. Having said that, I have already downloaded UGS and have one question. If Easel is online based where does UGS get your project files from?
I lied.. one more question. How much more of a learning curve is Carveco than Easel?
I don't plan on jumping software very soon except UGS so I will probably find most of the answers myself and from your excellent videos.
A wealth of information that you provide is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
EDIT.. Having just a few minutes on the cnc I answered my own question. Sorry I jumped the gun before getting my hands on it.
Keep up the great work.
Thank you, glad you're finding the videos helpful. More importantly I am glad you solved the questions before I got chance to reply :) The jump from Easel to Carveco is quite a big one but many people do it. Carveco (and most industry CNC software) work in a very different way than Easel so you almost have to forget everything you learnt in Easel and go in with a clear head. Carveco is very powerful and also has lots of tools however, just because it has all of those tools, it doesnt mean you have to use them all if that makes sense so to some degree it can be as simple as you want it to be
For laser i use lightburn its the best and for the price cheap i have a camera setup makes life so much easier, anyone starting out in co2 or diode give light burn a try
JD, your excellent vid needs an upgrade of info. As of 2021, there is no more Easel-Basic (w/4-days of PRO/mo). It is now only 30days free of Easel-PRO (per email acct) and then you must pay for Easel-PRO. And as of 12/21 Easel has jacked price to $24.99/mo or $223/yr....... Hence, I will be converting to Carveco (being a hobbyist on a retired fix budget) plus I want to play with 3D-carving that Easel cannot......... My hope is 'LightBurn' OTP will soon add a 'LightCarve' OTP.................. I wish I'd have know the limitations/kinks of 3018P, so my 2021 xmas present to me is a 4030XL w/6060 extension - serious hobby here just like HAM Radio. TNX
Great Video, Ive been struggling for a year to get my 3018 going. Unfortunately for me the Machine> General Settings menu on Easel is now different for me and I can't D/l a g code. Frustrating these programs constantly upset and move things around. Would appreciate any tips to reindeer a gcode.
hello great video , What you say there's a lot of cnc software , But one you forgot is Estlcam software , Yes you must pay for that software , But for beginners super easy and works whit GRBL
You are very correct. Estlcam is one of the best software for beginners.
Thanks. I'll look into that right now. I'm looking for a intro software. Scratch built a 3018 style CNC over a year ago and have been struggling with candle ever since. kind of gave up a few months ago. Thanks again
First of all THX a lot for your great videos and instructions...have already learned a lot ! Just one question..could be that carveco can´t handle 2sided machining like vcarve?
Or am I just blind and didn´t see ? Greets from Austria
Great video. Is Sketchup good enough for first semester students of Graphic Design? Thanks.
Whew! Need a whiteboard for this pitch. Awesome Great job BTW! I'm at the Crayon stage, confused about the functionality of, i.e. Carveco vs. UGS vs. G-Code, etc. Just got my 3018 expansion setup and powered up. Maybe I need to watch again.
Gcode is the language ( or list of commands) essentially that tells your machine what it needs to do. Carveco helps create your design but crucially then helps creat that Gcode. UGS in essence talks to your machine and sends that Gcode across
Thank you for grate onfo.
You're welcome
Thanks for the info. I've been using Fusion 360 because I'm not afraid of the learning curve. The biggest drawback to it that I've found is the lack of a couple of key features and refinements. Two (of many) examples:
1. Feature: Lack of V-carve inlay toolpaths. It is possible to do v-carve inlays with Fusion, but you must "trick" it into doing the female toolpath. Software such as Carveco & Vetric do this automatically.
2. Refinements: This is just an example of one that I've run into. The ability to make text follow a vector exists. However, Fusion limits this to a single vector line. This means you must do work-arounds if you have a curve that contains more than one vector!
For the price Fusion wants for a license (yes, I know hobbyists get it for free, but the paid license has the same software), this is just unacceptable to me. I'm going to give Carveco a try.
Its one of those scenarios where Fusion 360 wasnt really designed for the CNC community as such but they have tried to make it work, whereas Carveco and Vectric are pure CNC software so its much more tailored
Great video. Thanks James!!
Thanks Andrew
Was going to use Altium which puts out GRBL, NC and ODB++. This is where I hit a brick wall with this program. Carvco does have a standalone perpetual licence but that is for the professional version Carvco plus.
Hi David, I dont really know much about altium, so unable to help you on that one. That is correct about Carveco, it's Maker version is subscription only. Maker+ and full Carveco have perpetual licenses but obviously cost more
@@JamesDeanDesigns Altium is a very sophisticated design software specific to electronics engineering. Which enables you to draw circuit schematics then netlists to another part of the program where you design the printed circuit board. From there there is a CAM portion that outputs a multilayer gerber file with NC drill codes. This program has a long history since 1992 starting as Protel which then branched to Orcad and Client 98 and I believe Autocad, which are now 3 different companies that are still loosely tied to each other. Autocad became Autodesk, Orcad I think became Eagle and Client 98 became Altium. Altium advanced to include a very crude 3D modeling program. It has since evolved to a CAD, CAM and Programmer. I like Altium because it has very nice eye candy.
Hey James thanks so much for your help, excellent information.
I’m only looking to do simple text engraving and wondering if you have tried “textmilling “ software that’s its name, i wanted to try it but didn’t realize I had installed it and didn’t get to use the trial period lol. It looks as tho it does all parts and create nc file I can load to hand controller. I’m willing to buy software but just want to make sure it does what I need! have you had any experience with this thanks mike.
Do you have a video on the best way to change bits mid project on a foxalien machine. I have seen mostly large cnc machines? Thanks
“That’s ok because we are all adults”.
If people think CAD is confusing, try explaining the phrase above to people these days. Great video!
Hi, is there in the market any kind of cnc electronics kit (ready to run) just by attaching and calibrating with a diy cnc frame?
James, great videos. I'm interested in doing Inlay work, do you have some videos on that subject?
I dont at the moment. Its something I plan to do as part of my Carveco series but that keeps getting delayed at the moment 😔
I want to use VCarve with my FoxAlien 4040XE but not sure what post processor to choose. Thanks!
Hi loving your videos so far,
I currently do 3d printing and my own design work
I’m currently thinking about getting the foxalien masuter pro cnc
For my current cad work I use fusion 360 and I have a commercial license on it I see you mentioned that I can use fusion 360 for cnc but is is possible to use that for the cad and cam part of the process as I don’t really want to have loads of different softwares as well as machines to learn
Thanks in advance
Kyle
Yes you can use it for both aspects so go for it 👍
James, this question doesn't quite fit here but hope you can answer it for me. Are there projects already designed and ready to carve that one can download? I think that might help me learn the workings of the CNC as well.
Yes Mr Dean I'm new to CNC and got the fox alien masuter pro 4040 CNC and am trying to use Easle with candle . I get everything setup in Easle then create a picture and then send or transfer the gcode over to candle and when I click on send to start the process I get nothing. Do I actually have to have or use candle with Easle or can I just do it all on Easle.
Another great video, and just at the right time for me as I'm looking to up my CNC game.
I have a question about offline controllers. I currently use free Easel for my 3018 and once I've generated the G-code, I pop it on a mini sd card and run it via the online controller. Is this not advisable? I do love the freedom the offline controller gives me.
Offline controllers are absolutely fine, they typically just have limited functions. You have a lot more options using a something like UGS but not everyone needs those extra functions
Say I wanted to make a 2 inch by 4 inch door wedge 3/4 thick. Which program could do that
I have a plazmacam dhc2. Due too some paperwork not filed correctly, personal no longer working and politics I'm unable to deal directly with plazmacam. It runs off designedge software. So due to my issues I can't get and upgrades. I guess my question is can I use other software on this table?