CAD to CAM with Solidworks

[Richard McClellan]

I've just built a homemade CNC machine for fun this summer and am now trying to figure out the best way to go from CAD to G-Code. I'm controlling the machine with Mach3, which is a free program that runs standard G-code.

I have both the Solidworks Student Design Kit and the Student Edition of Inventor (but I prefer Solidworks), and would like to find a free (or low cost) program to go from CAD files to G-code. I've tried using a trial version of CamBam, which makes it very easy to generate G-code, but it can only import dxf or stl files. Is there an easy way to convert a Solidworks file to dxf or stl?

[henryBsick]

[File] "Save As"
"Save As Type" : STL
STL files are commonly used in 3D printing.

[R.C.]

We use Mastercam and if you contact they might give you a one year trial.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

I've just built a homemade CNC machine for fun this summer and am now trying to figure out the best way to go from CAD to G-Code. I'm controlling the machine with Mach3, which is a free program that runs standard G-code.

I have both the Solidworks Student Design Kit and the Student Edition of Inventor (but I prefer Solidworks), and would like to find a free (or low cost) program to go from CAD files to G-code. I've tried using a trial version of CamBam, which makes it very easy to generate G-code, but it can only import dxf or stl files. Is there an easy way to convert a Solidworks file to dxf or stl?

No, you cannot convert a 3d file to a flat image. You need to first make a drawing (I forget how to do this in solidworks) and then convert the drawing to a dxf or stl. You can then use a Cam program to convert the dxf/stl to g-code.

If you actually BUY Mach3 you will get a free copy of Lazy Cam, which is what I've been using. Its a pretty simple program for hobbiests.

I prefer to write the code by hand though, or at least edit what lazy cam spits out.

[Cory]

To my knowledge there is no free CAM software that is very good at all.

You can get CAMWorks which is integrated with Solidworks for $100 for a fully functional educational license. We bought a seat a year ago, but I already knew MasterCAM and had no desire to learn something new, so the few times I did use it, I didn't like it and it didn't really grow on me. If you're not proficient with another CAM system, it's probably worth a look, and being integrated with SW is very nice.