Anyone know anything about CNC machines (bonus points for 3d printer knowledge too)...

I want to buy a metal-capable CNC as well as a 3D printer to supplement it. Mostly to do random projects. But could use advice on what to purchase.

I am also curious about the software side, ideally id like to get a CNC that is easy to work with from a software level and bonus points if i could somehow use the same software to design for both CNC and 3d printer since parts for any particular project are likely to come from both.

#3dprinter #3dprinting #cnc #fab #manufacturing

@freemo making the models is probably going to be the same CAD/STL software, but finishing them isn't. you need a slicer for the 3d printer, and god knows what for the CNC (path tracers/calculators i think, and there are some simulators.)

@meowski does the CNC thing.

@freemo @meowski wrong fuckin' meowski my bad

@icedquinn

Thanks, yea thats kinda what i figured on the 3d side.. though im not clear how you go from a CAD design to the slicer. Presumable a cad design consists of multiple parts in one design fitted together. The 3d printer, as well as the CNC (depending on which part) will handle the parts indivudally.

So I presume there is some way in the CAD program to break up your design into files where each file represents a different part in a single design. Then you send the 3d ones off tp the slicer, then the CNC ones off to whatever handles that.

Also, like you, I am less clear on the CNC side than the 3d side (though im not all **that** clear on the 3d side either except at a high level, where you seem to have worked with it more).

@meowski

@freemo @meowski Slicers accept 3D model files. They analyze the model in layers, which the 3D printer works with, and then compute a path to move the tool head on that layer while extruding filament. So anything that produces a 3D model works.

A lot of people use Blender (or try to) for cosmetic 3D prints. I always tell people not to do this, although if you're using something like Sverchok then it's basically a CAD program at that point.

CAD software usually has a button to export to a format like STL or OBJ.

I would assume you import finished STLs in order to make use of finished parts from elsewhere in a build. But it probably depends on the software you use.

@icedquinn

I havent used blender in many years, but from what i know of it, specifically the work flow, it would seem more suited for 3d models and animations than for physical machining. Machined objects usually have a lot of symmetries and uniformity to their design since they are functional more than aesthetic. It just doesnt seem what blender is intended for. Blender feels more like working with clay making arbitrary shapes where CAD feels more like working with a straight edge and technical drawings...

It would be like doing a blueprint of a house in blender. Sure you could do it, but man that seems way more convoluted than doing it in CAD software.

@meowski

@freemo @meowski Sverchok is a plugin for precision, procedural models. https://github.com/nortikin/sverchok

@icedquinn

Does Scerchok enable things like solids of revolution designs? One of the thing that was nice about fusion 360 is you could basically just create solids from 2d sketches by applying things like a solid of revolution to it. I presume for blender to be useful it would have to do the same, perhaps this plugin adds that?

@meowski