Newbie with Eastwood CNC Plasma Table

[Ceilingwalker]

Hello, I purchased an Eastwood CNC Plasma Table last year. Up til now I have just been using all of the onboard shapes and am pleased with it. I am getting more courageous now and would like to start using my AutoCAD and Sheetcam to do some of my own design. I am hoping someone else here has an Eastwood similar to mine that could give me answers to a couple of questions. First, I downloaded the post processor from the Eastwood website for sheetcam. Are there any issues I need to be aware of? Second, when I create a DXF in AutoCAD with lettering, vectorize it, then import it into Sheetcam, it doesn't show up. I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and how you resolved it? Thank you.

[tcaudle]

If it only happens when you have text than you need to explode the final drawing before you export as DXF. Fonts are not pure vector objects and are not supported in DXF,
Also the REV of DXF used to generate out of AutoCAD may be the issue if it happens on any file that does not have text.

[acourtjester]

A few things you need to know, when saving a text it must to converted to path or it will not show in SheetCam. See attached images, both text but only one is a path, I did this in Inkscape AutoCad may be different. Inkscape has button for converting items to path before saving to DXF file. High light what you want to convert to path the click on button.
Also when bringing in a new Post Processor to SheetCam you must import it. When you want to use that PP you need to select it from the list. SheetCam places new PP to the top of the list or PPs

text path.JPG

text to path inkscape.jpg

text with pathaa.dxf

text with path BB.JPG

PP sheetCam list.jpg

[AREA]

Great info, thanks guys.I have had the same problem and couldn't remember what to do. Bookmarking this topic for my next brain fart

[Ceilingwalker]

A few things you need to know, when saving a text it must to converted to path or it will not show in SheetCam. See attached images, both text but only one is a path, I did this in Inkscape AutoCad may be different. Inkscape has button for converting items to path before saving to DXF file. High light what you want to convert to path the click on button.
Also when bringing in a new Post Processor to SheetCam you must import it. When you want to use that PP you need to select it from the list. SheetCam places new PP to the top of the list or PPs
text path.JPG
text to path inkscape.jpg
text with pathaa.dxf
text with path BB.JPG
PP sheetCam list.jpg

Is any of this affected by the fact that I haven't purchased SheetCAM yet? I am just making sure it works with my machine prior to purchase.

[acourtjester]

SheetCam work with a great number of CNC tables, I would suggest you contact SheetCam directly and ask them. In the past SheetCam has created custom post processors for people. Where things get different is what G-code commands a controller uses. These are things SheetCam puts in the custom Post Processors, and are handled automatically when generating the G-code. I found this out when switching to LinuxCNC on my new DIY table. But good old SheetCam had the Post Processor already in their library, I just selected it and things worked great.
You can download a Demo version and create small G-code to check how thing work before you buy. I don't see anything for Eastwood but many controller use a standard post processor like one for Mach 3, just ask SheetCam. Some even rework the screen appearance with a custom look but it is just Mach 3 showing their name or logo.