Creating Drawings for CNC Router - Best Way?

Woodshop
1

Folks -

I haven’t taken the CNC Router class yet (but plan to), hence this question.

I found a nice rolling cabinet whose parts I’d like to cut on the CNC router. I would like to create the CAD files (not toolpaths, necessarily) and I’m wondering about the best way to do that - one that won’t require re-drawing the parts in some other software package later. I am good with SolidWorks. Is there any reason I can’t create the 3D parts there and export them to whatever format the router’s software wants?

TIA!

Matt

2

VCarve (CAM program we use) can import DXF, but there are many workflows to get there.

I’ve personally designed something with Solidworks by creating all the parts and created an assembly to put them all together. I then created a different assembly for layout to be used for cutting. In that layout, I created a 4’x8’ piece and laid all the parts out on top of it. I then created a “drawing” of that assembly and exported it to DXF to be imported into VCarve.

4 Likes
3

Great. So If I create all of the parts in SW my effort won’t be wasted. That’s what I was hoping to hear.

Thanks!

Matt