I was just wondering if if I can download the Mach 3 software before I get the pro. I have no experience with cad or cam so I wanted to take the 4 month wait time to get to know it.
Absolutely you can… Load everything just as you would as if you have your table already. It’s a great idea to start working through the process on some easy parts before you’re really feeling pressured to get that first part cut…
Mach3 will give you a message to the effect it’s not recognizing the RnR motion card until you have the electronics with the table and your computer connected…
Not sure how much difference there will be between the Mach3 files for the PRO table vs. the Crossfire but…
Everything you’d need can be found at …https://www.langmuirsystems.com/downloads
Play as much as you can!!
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Thanks for the response. I couldn’t imagine trying to figure out all this by myself.
The Mach 3 doesn’t take all that much time to learn IMHO. Spend most of your efforts on Fusion 360. Get to a point where you can do the simulated cutting in that software.
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I have been designing in CorelDraw for decades…anyone else? How tough is it to pull art into Mach 3?
I’m assuming here that it’s Mach 3 that runs the machine and the Fusion 360 is what most are doing the designing with correct?
If possible, I’d like to stick with Corel since I know it so well.
No problem there but you’ll need something like sheetcam to make the file that mach3 uses to run the machine
What file type does Mach 3 need?
Mach3 is available as a limited demo and it will use .tap files that you have to make. For Mach3 really you dont need to learn in the same way as sheetcam or fusion. Mach3 can just run the files for you. The other software needs to be learned so you can make the tool Paths and it will have an impact on what you can cut
Yes & no. Corel Draw can be used for the design tasks. People also use Fusion 360 or Inkscape for their design activities.
Once the design is done (save it as SVG or DXF file type), you need to define toolpaths which you can do using Fusion 360 or Sheetcam. Toolpathing is when you define how the elements of your design will cut - on the line or offset inside or outside the line, torch speed, pierce delays, etc.
Once the toolpaths are defined you need to generate G-Code using a post-processor. You can use Fusion 360 or Sheetcam to do this. You will have a .tap file coming out of this step.
Only then do you have what Mach 3 needs. You’ll use Mach3 to control the Crossfire. You cannot design in Mach3 and you can’t use design files (SVG or DXF) in Mach3.
You’ll notice that Fusion can handle 3 of the required steps - design, toolpathing and G-Code generation. Corel can only design (Corel is actually my go-to design software, I’m using X8).
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I’m using Corel 2019 and will continue since I’m pretty efficient with it, so I guess its sheetcam or fusion in addition for me. I know how to make very clean shapes with a minimum of nodes quickly.