Part Studio to CNC mill?

scott_caskey

I am nearly complete with converting my Milling machine to CNC. 
Can someone point me to a tutorial or provide suggestions on how to go from a part studio in OnShape to the file needed for the CNC machine software (using Centroid Acorn with CNC 12 software) ?  

john_mcclary

It looks like it accepts step files. So right click your part in the part studio and select export. Then choose .step as the format. Then import the step file inwo cnc12

scott_caskey

So you don't need another application to define the tools types/sizes and sequence of cuts, depth and number of cuts, speed, etc., ?   Is all that done in the CNC application on the mill?  
Thanks for the input John. 

john_mcclary

I'm not familiar with CNC12 or contriod. 
but typically CAM software is required to define tools/cut paths/feeds/speeds etc. and convert it into G code specifically for each brand or type of CNC

the fact that software can open a STEP file and is part of centroids suite, tells me it is likely the only CAM software you will need to get going.

nick_papageorge_dayjob

You need a CAM application. Onshape is for the design. Then you export it as as STEP to the CAM software. In the CAM software you will generate all the toolpaths. The CAM software will then generate G-Code, which is a text file. This is the file you will send to your CNC Controller. The CNC controller in your case is Centroid.

Onshape does not currently have a built in CAM function. If you are doing hobby work, Fusion360 has a free cam function. If commercial use, their license is about $500 per year. Or you can go to MasterCAM which is much more expensive. There is a free 3rd party software for Onshape called Kiri:Moto in the Onshape app store. I have not used it yet to comment. Fusion360 I used a fair bit (for hobby only). Its good for CAM (but I can't stand it for modelling, ha ha).

michael3424

Onshape also has at least some support for other CAM programs.  I use SprutCAM, which is pretty inexpensive so far as CAM programs go and has versions to support 3D, 4th/5th axis, plasma cutters, robots, and a bunch of other machine types.  It is developed in Russia and can be a bit daunting at first but there are some good YouTube videos, by SprutCAM themselves, SprutCAMUK, and SprutCAMAmerica that help you get started.  The latter is the USA distributor for the product.

scott_caskey

Ok.  Thanks everyone for the input.  I believe the CNC12 application handles everything after the import of the STEP file.  I was unsure of where that took place.  I do 3D printing and that requires a separate slicer application usually so I figured I would need the CNC Mill equivalent.    Thanks!