I have the Crossfire Pro with the Z axis control. I’m banging my head against the wall…I do not understand files of any kind, I can load a like 3 different ones into firecontrol but almost all others I’ve downloaded from Fireshare will not work. What is a compressed file?? How can I make this easier for myself? I do not have much computer experience. I have managed to cut a few things already that were NC files and TAP files. Most everything I download is a ‘‘compressed file’’ and will not load into Firecontrol. I feel like I need to hire a tutor…
Welcome to the forum.
As you are discovering, this CNC Plasma thing has a lot of ‘C’ in it. If you don’t have basic computer understanding, you’ve got a big piece of equipment that’s not going to do much for you.
One on one, @brownfox is probably a good bet. It depends on what you’re trying to make. @TinWhisperer has some good videos if you can deal with something other than YouTube.
Good luck.
3 Likes
After you download the file, go to your downloads and click once on the file. At the top of the file explorer screen will be a pink tab that says “extract”. Click on that and a toolbar will show at the top of the screen with an option to “extract all” on the right side. Click that and it will ask you where you want to save the extracted files. You can just click on “extract” and it will make a new file in your downloads folder. The file will have the same name, but the folder won’t have the zipper in the middle of it. Double click on that file and your .nc or .tap file will be inside.
2 Likes
I think a computer class would be a good idea. CNC plasma you will spend 90-95 percent of your time on the computer and the other 5-10% of the time running the table. Most files you download will still need allot of work.
Start simple and take baby steps. You are going to have allot of questions. If you don’t do a class at least have someone you know local that can spend a night teaching the basic things like opening a zipped folder ect. Once you get pretty confident running your computer start learning a CAD/vector program. Once you get the CAD down start learning the CAM.
5 Likes
If you are overwhelmed and need a one on one explanation, I’m happy to offer my tutoring services. I’ve been able to get several people from the brink of giving up to cutting their own simple files in two hours.
I do require that you know computer basics. Downloading files off an email, moving them around, navigating a computer.
I don’t really deal with compressed files very often in my workflow, but it’s as easy as right click and extract all.
1 Like
do you go over fusion 360 etc? id be very intrigued to get a bit of help with some things,
i can draw a (basic) photo in fusion, i can save/ export to fire control
but running into some snags, current one is trying to modify a file i got from “fileshare” etc
Nope, I don’t use fusion. I use a vector drawing program and sheetcam.
I would love some help if you have the time. Where do we go from here
well shit. lol
@Sparker Send me a private message.
@Rug15 You can get some great help watching @TinWhisperer work, plus he’s free, although I have no clue how he does it. I designed a whole bumper for my 4runner in a vector program, but only because I’ve been using it for a while and know a bunch of tricks. For 2D work, it would have been inefficient for me to learn fusion. But the day I need bend radius calculation and 3D capability, I’ll have to do make the switch. Even then, it will only be for technical parts, never art, and I’ll still post process with Sheetcam. I spend seconds in sheetcam post processing.
1 Like
I like the new logo!!
1 Like
Thanks. I don’t know why I never used my actual logo for this. My prior pic was the old school Toyota emblem.
2 Likes
Hmm. All I’m doing is 2d. Tho I don’t want to try and jump over to a whole new system…
But I have no need for 3D. Just cutting dtandard geometric shapes. Lol