I am real new and need pictures and videos, any help appreciated. I have biult an JDs DIY PlasmaCNC. Got it working and I want to learn Sheetcam.
Thank you for considering Sheetcam.
Consider these next actions to get up and running quickly…
1) Review some youtube videos on Sheetcam basics and topics of interest.
A great set of training videos were produced by Arclight Dynamics, for starters see…
Sheetcam tutorial 1 Basics - YouTube
Arclight CNC - SheetCam Tutorial - YouTube
Path Rules tutorial- Youtube
SheetCam Rotary plasma pipe cutting demo - YouTube
be sure to view other videos that youtube may suggest on sheetcam from these providers and from the sheetcam channel.
2) Download and try Sheetcam.
The trial/demo version of SheetCam is the exact same executable as the licensed version, which you can download from here Download SheetCam – SheetCam LLC, It is fully functional with the exception that it will only produce 180 lines or so of gcode. There is no time limit on trial use in this fashion. We have found this to be very effective in allowing those interested (in purchasing a Sheetcam license) to make a meaningful and full assessment of our product. This includes searching and using the library of included post processors which drive the gcode production.
3) Find your post processor in Sheetcam install lib.
see menu Options->Machine->Post Processor.
There may be post processors for your CNC controller brand or others that are compatible. You will need to examine the library or the gcode produced once choosing a post processor, or inquire to your CNCs mfg, as to which one is compatible with your model. If none are found to be completely compatible, it is usually the case that with little effort you can modify it to support your CNC. Sheetcam Customer Support (sales@sheetcam.com) can offer a quote for such modification services for a custom post processor. Sheetcam also provides the API documentation, at the same menu cited above, for you or your programming staff to make the post processor modifications or create a new one.
A good pp exemplar you can copy to use as is (grbl gcode dialect) or modify to suit your machine controller is here, in two complexities depending on your taste or machine use of rotary plugin or not- Post Processor Example w Custom Options popup window
4) See Sheetcam’s menu Help / Tutorials to get step by step How-To guidance on typical tasks needed to get started creating CNC toolpaths and related gcode from your CAD drawings. Note: when using these tutorials, your Options / ‘Job options’ will be changed, including material, work area, and table size settings, be prepared to manually revert them to your machine when finished with the tutorial.
5) usual rookie gotchas…
- there are two places to setup linear units, menu Options / ‘Application options’ for the toolpath design (drawing canvas), and then in Options / Machine / ‘Post Processor’ for gcode production (the units you like to run your machine). The two settings are independent of each other do not have to be in sync.
- at least one Operation (for plasma, Jet Operation) is required to define the toolpath, at least one Layer, at least one Tool but have at least two defined (I’ll explain later), and at least one Part. dxf import lands in a Part, correlation is 1:1. Layers arrive from dxf and are subordinate to Part.
- to see the Layer names and control their view or not, menu View / 'Layer tool’. The left hand gutter of main window is best managed by keeping these windows open: Layers view, Part view, Tools view, and Operations view. size the window sections as needed.
- to see gcode after the pp runs… BEFORE the pp runs, open menu View / ‘Code editor’. This makes a shallow split screen at bottom of main window. I hate that. Suggest that you grab that split Code editor title bar and drag it to become either a floating window on the drawing canvas, or dock it to right hand side of main window. Where ever you put it, size it as you like, sheetcam will remember placement and size, so you can close the window when its in the way, and easily open it again from the menu or toolbar. Hover help is available on toolbar icons.
- the file extension (.tap, .nc, .gnc, etc) can be set for the gcode file in menu Options / Machine / ‘Post Processor’
- Sheetcam typically remembers field values for most window dialogues throughout the UI, this can be handy, but it can also be dangerous when such values change without you knowing about it. The most common reason this can happen is menu File / ‘Open job’ from your past history or from someone else.
- some pp’s place profuse comments in the gcode, the prologues usually have good-to-know stuff concerning machine axes zero and setup, especially for rotary jobs. Please notice where this is as different pp options will make a huge difference.
cross linking to a primer on Tool Sets…
Many of our customers (and a few prospective customers) already know… running sheetcam unlicensed (demo mode) is fully functional with just two exceptions:
- the five licensed plugins are Disabled, those are: RotaryPlasma, Laser, Drag Knife, Wire Cutter, and Vcarve Bit.
- gcode production from any post processor is limited to approx. 180 lines of code.
Despite this somewhat general awareness, Sheetcam Customer Support is frequently asked about installing and using sheetcam on more than one computer in terms of licensing requirements, that is, does each installation of sheetcam require a license ? It’s a great question… The answer is, it depends… it depends on if you must generate 100% complete gcode files on more than one computer. The most common use case dictates that needing 100% complete gcode files is NOT necessary on all computers, rather it is only necessary on just ONE computer, thus that computer is ONE which must be licensed for sheetcam. You decide which computer, most people choose the computer which connects to and operates their CNC controller, in the shop.
Note: If on the other hand, you actually need to generate 100% complete gcode on more than one computer running sheetcam, then you must adhere to the license terms and conditions and purchase separate sheetcam licenses for each of those computers.
The most common two-computer use case, with ONE license, described and asked about is:
- 1st computer) using sheetcam in a comfortable, clean setting such as an office, for the purpose of CAM (toolpath) design and setup. No gcode production or the 180 line limit is fine, just to know the post processor (pp) is working. In this case, save your toolpath design as a sheetcam .JOB file, see sheetcam menu File / ‘Save job’ feature.
- 2nd computer) using sheetcam in the shop at or near the CNC controller and table, where it’s convenient to make changes to the CAM (toolpath) design, generate 100% complete gcode, and run the CNC job again in some fashion. In this case, open the .JOB file saved by the 1st computer, see sheetcam menu File / ‘Open job’. Open the file from a thumb drive, a network shared folder, downloaded from email, or downloaded from a cloud folder (google drive).
This is an efficient and inexpensive method to use sheetcam on more than one computer, the way it was intended to be used in the first place. For this reason, all of the sheetcam components that you will need to edit the .JOB file are contained in the .JOB file, such as complete toolpath design including full toolset (tool definitions) and path rules.
Other use cases may involve more than two computers, but again where only ONE or just a FEW computers must generate 100% complete gcode. The same solution can be extrapolated to those use cases, such as a classroom. Purchase a sheetcam license for each computer install of sheetcam that will need to generate 100% complete gcode. It’s that simple.