STL, STEP or IGES Interface in EMC

Hi,

I'm a new CNC & EMC user, but I'm realy interrested in.

As of the moment I'm using a 3D CAD system without an CAM- module. So I'm searching for a EMC Interface for STL, STEP or IGES data formats. Like the image-to-gcode filter function. Or is it possible to use HeeksCNC, too.

Thx a lot!!

Hi John,

thx a lot for your reply.

But on wiki I can't find any solution which will help in my situation. It isn't possible to get such a "free" tool. If I can't find a free tool for EMC or Linux I will try to use CUT3D for windows.

Hey John,

also thx...

there is one realy good tool. PyCAM... It works great!!

Best regards from Germany

Hi ?? ( midnightwolf )

I don't know HeekCNC , but as I'm searching for a friend, I digged a bit into it.

Seems to be nice, free, existing for Linux and Windows.
I did not understand if you need the pure CAD plus CAM as CNC looks like beeing the complete version.

Going into wiki I saw that you can autput to two versions of EMC..

I would like to hear of your expirience with those programs, as my friend is an mecanics g-code used pensioner, but not a hacker.

P.S.
I'm using Solid Edge and Mastercam, so will not dig into Heeks ...

Mike

Yes, HeeksCAD should be able to deal with STL files for you too. I haven't played with STL to gcode generation in a while, but I think it's still working with HeeksCAD:

code.google.com/p/heekscad/

HeeksCNC is a plugin for HeeksCAD. Opencamlib is used for the solid model machining in HeeksCNC.

code.google.com/p/heekscnc/
code.google.com/p/opencamlib/

Dan

Hi Mike,

I had a look into HeekCNC.

But I think it is a little bit strange to use. Normaly I'm using "CoCreate modeling". But I don't have an CAM converter in CoCreate. On the other hand I don't have any experience in GCODE writing. So I'm searching for a tool which will help to convert my drawings.

All of my drawings are finished in the used tool now, so it will be difficult to use a new tool. Also as I saw the CUT3D & PyCAM is working very well.

My opinion was to asking for an "filter interface" in EMC, like the "image-to-gcode". That will be a good solution for everybody as I think.

Thx
Benjamin

yes, I know... You are right!!

So the CUT3D Software will be a very good solution as I think. Because in that case you can configure all of that things.