CAM software for Lathes

[Les RileyParticipant @lesriley75593]

I am quite familiar with home CNC milling and have been using CamBam for creating my G code for some years.

However, I am now in a position to use one of my lathes in a CNC mode.

What do folks use to write their code for lathes? Is there a (relatively) simple answer like CamBam?

Also, do I need to draw in Fusion 360 or similar or will an ordinary 2D Autocad DXF file suffice?

Thanks,

Les

[Les RileyParticipant @lesriley75593]

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I do some parts with Lazy Turn which is part of the Mach3 family. It imports DXF files but the file should only be the part outline above the centreline and does not require a line for the face next to the chuck/collet/headstock. It is limited in some of the things it does so is the least used option. I did something today just using Notepad to write a file for a profile which is easier for some simple things. The other thing I use is Mach3 wizards. I have modified the screens so that the Manual page has the four wizards I use most, turning, facing, boring and tapers, picked with one of the usually unused buttons at the bottom of the screen. This improves the functionality of a touchscreen as well,

If you want to keep a file from a wizard you just chose to edit the file and then Save As to a suitable location and with a suitable filename. Saved files can be put together in Notepad to create a more complex part. That is what is going to happen with the small file I wrote today, it will be put on the end of a facing wizard file so that the complete program will remove the bulk of the material with the section from the wizard then do the fiddly bit with the extra part I created.

I use AutoCad for drawing DXF files and any 2D cad program will do this including some versions of AutoCad that were given away free as magazine cover disks (as long as you have an old XP system to run it on).

Martin C

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I have CamBam v1.0 and I believe it supports turning though I haven't tried it yet.

There is a Lathes & Turning section on the support forum:

https://cambamcnc.com/forum/index.php?board=17.0

**LINK**

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

F360 has turning, I've only played with it a bit as I don't have a CNC lathe but seems quite straightforward to use though I am used to using their mill CAM.

[Keith Rogers 2Participant @keithrogers2]

I have in the past used a program called Ezilathe (note spelling). It's free and only requires a 2D drawing to generate the G-code. It runs happily on Mach3, and I believe there is a version for Mach4.

A search on t'internet should find it.

Keith.

[Les RileyParticipant @lesriley75593]

Posted by Keith Rogers 2 on 13/01/2023 11:17:21:

I have in the past used a program called Ezilathe (note spelling). It's free and only requires a 2D drawing to generate the G-code. It runs happily on Mach3, and I believe there is a version for Mach4.

A search on t'internet should find it.

Keith.

Yes, indeed.

I have been following the link from John Haine above which has taken me around a few loops and arrived at EziLathe. I have literally just installed it and started playing.

It looks promising, although I am at the bottom of another one of those "steep learning curves" that we seem to keep finding in this hobby!

Thanks all,

Les

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

I find Ecam to be very good. I tried Fusion 360, but still prefer Ecam as it seems easier to set up and use.

CamBam isn't ideal for lathe as many useful lathe specific functions are missing.

Martin.

[Les RileyParticipant @lesriley75593]

Posted by blowlamp on 13/01/2023 13:01:11:

I find Ecam to be very good. I tried Fusion 360, but still prefer Ecam as it seems easier to set up and use.

CamBam isn't ideal for lathe as many useful lathe specific functions are missing.

Martin.

I have just had a look at Ecam and it looks interesting. However the price is a bit too much for my very occasional lathe use. Though it does do milling as well I suppose.

Les

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Les, as you have been using CamBam for milling why not try its lathe function?

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Les

You can draw a half sketch in Fusion360, rotate the view along the Z axis to make a model then use Manufacture to produce the part. Using the built in Post Processor you need to choose your lathe operating system (Mach, Linux etc) from the list and then produce the code and download to your system.

Some knowledge of G code is a benefit as you may need to tweak some of the Feedrates, also if using more than 1 tool per program you will have to have G code for each tool unless you modify the program or take out a subscription which then caters for any number of tools per program.

Emgee

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I don't know what the latest version of Ezilathe is but version 1.7.3.0 had some problems when looked at. It messed up radius calculations which would result in scrapping my sample file part when on the last few passes. It calculated a 2mm radius curve with a 1mm Z change and a 2mm X resulting in the tool going outside the profile and into the workpiece. It should have been 2mm for both X and Z. It may not seem like much of an error bit when you are deep into a wide groove the side of the groove would contact the tool over a large area.

Martin C

[Keith Rogers 2Participant @keithrogers2]

That's interesting Martin, I've not had any problems with the few things I have used it for, but I don't know offhand what versions I have used.

I need to make a ball handle in the near future so I was going to use Ezilathe on my friends lathe. I'll have to make sure it doesn't do the same to me!

Altho' everything I've done so far with it has been fine.

Keith.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by Les Riley on 13/01/2023 16:47:50:

Posted by blowlamp on 13/01/2023 13:01:11:

I find Ecam to be very good. I tried Fusion 360, but still prefer Ecam as it seems easier to set up and use.

CamBam isn't ideal for lathe as many useful lathe specific functions are missing.

 

Martin.

I have just had a look at Ecam and it looks interesting. However the price is a bit too much for my very occasional lathe use. Though it does do milling as well I suppose.

 

Les

 

 

Les. It may help you to know that Ecam is free to use at the weekend.

This means that you can do everything else except produce gcode during the week. So you can draw & edit your work whenever you want, but only make gcode on Saturday & Sunday.

 

 

Martin.

Edited By blowlamp on 13/01/2023 19:21:38

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Here are some screenshots showing the error I found in Ezilathe, there is the original DXF page, the Ezilathe simulation and the Mach3 run page showing the actual path produced.

I would also say that the Mach3 wizards as supplied are not perfect. I had to redo some of the facing wizard script due to faulty coding that had, for example, minus signs where it should have had plus signs. If anyone wants the corrected script let me know, it is just a short script so not a big file, I could probably post it in here if required.

Martin C

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

Dolphin is quite affordable.

Regards.

David.

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