What is a Good software for metal sign design?

[Andrewbcdueck]

Hello I have been running my business for 6 years, and used Torchmate CAD. I am selling the company and don't want to get rid of the Torchmate Cad because I am keeping my plasma table. It would be easiest for the new owner to use Torchmate CAD as all my designs are in Torchmate format, but I feel like Torchmate is a rather poor CAD system overall. And I want him to have a good experience with his Cad program.
What are your thoughts?

[acourtjester]

I would look at Fusion 360, He can get a free version if he is not a heavy commercial user. There are many tutorials on YouTube for him to learn and it has DXF file outputs. And Sheet Cam if he needs a CAM program or maybe use Fusion for G-code outputs if they have a post processor for the table he will use.

[adbuch]

Hello I have been running my business for 6 years, and used Torchmate CAD. I am selling the company and don't want to get rid of the Torchmate Cad because I am keeping my plasma table. It would be easiest for the new owner to use Torchmate CAD as all my designs are in Torchmate format, but I feel like Torchmate is a rather poor CAD system overall. And I want him to have a good experience with his Cad program.
What are your thoughts?

He can purchase the basic TMCad program for around $300 if he needs it. The advanced version with the fancy text manipulation, etc. is around $1600. I purchased TMCad several years ago to check it out. I don't really use it at all, as I have other more "up to date" programs I use.

If you are giving him your designs/cut files - then you could save them as dxf or svg and then he could open them with any cad software. If you have thousands of files all in the TM format, then let him purchase TMCad lite and convert the files for himself.

If the new owner will be purchasing a cnc plasma table of his own, then I expect his table my come with some cad/design software. For 2D cad programs in general - there are many to choose from.

Tom mentions Fusion 360 as one of them.

David

[cutnweld]

I think inkscape is good as it gets for art related stuff. For parts drawing etc I am using turbocad and Alibre

[adbuch]

I think inkscape is good as it gets for art related stuff. For parts drawing etc I am using turbocad and Alibre

I agree! I very much like Inkscape for "artistic" pieces like the Mustang we were working on.

viewtopic.php?t=37599&start=25

mustang project.jpg

For strictly mechanical parts I would prefer something like QCad, SolidEdge 2D, Fusion 360, etc. I have no personal experience with turbocad or Alibre, but I expect they are great for mechanical parts as well.

David

[SegoMan DeSigns]

For drawing I have been using CorelDraw from the single digit versions on, I actually was drawing with it before anything CNC appeared in my shop. They offer a stand alone version vs their ransomware packages (annual rent). I export from CD as a DXF which I can use in my TM Cad Lite or SheetCam for the 6x12 table. I would browse garage sales or ebay and get an earlier version of it that they still offer support for.

I'm curious how you exported from Cad Lite to your TM Cutting machine, my TM 3 on the growth series table only allows imports from a DXF file. I have all of those file saved in a separate folder. So like David says give him copy of those files for whatever machine he has. The files from your TM cutting files might not be compatible with his set up due to lead ins ect.

[adbuch]

I suppose it depends on which version of TMCad he has. I am only familiar with the TMCad9 which does allow for export of dxf, svg, ai, and several other formats.

David

[Andrewbcdueck]

All my designs when I save them in TMCad are CADlink Drawing File type. I don't know how they open on something else. I can export to DXF. But Maybe I should recommend Inkscape to him since its pretty cheap. I think he will be exporting DXF files and sending them over to a laser shop.

[SegoMan DeSigns]

I suppose it depends on which version of TMCad he has. I am only familiar with the TMCad9 which does allow for export of dxf, svg, ai, and several other formats.

David

David,

Yes the TM CAD & CAD Lite Ver 9 series allows many export options, however the TM 3 controller software with my early release Growth Series table only allows you to open an existing G-Code (.fgc format) or the import of a .dxf file to create a new G-Code file with.

My folder filling structure is as follows:
1- Save drawing file in native CorelDraw .cdr format (to retain it's editing options)
2- Exported from CorelDraw to dxf format (for import into TM Cad or SheetCam Programs)
2a- Note: I never have saved the CAD 9 software in it's native .cdl format as any changes here would not be seen in Sheetcam
3- DXF exported from CAD 9 software (for import into TM 3 controller software)
4- G-Code .fgc format on the cutting computers (TM 3 software)
4a- Some people have all programs on one computer, I do not as I like the comfort of the office for drawing.

I was curios how Andrew ran his filling structure and what his system requirements were on his table.

Steve

[adbuch]

All my designs when I save them in TMCad are CADlink Drawing File type. I don't know how they open on something else. I can export to DXF. But Maybe I should recommend Inkscape to him since its pretty cheap. I think he will be exporting DXF files and sending them over to a laser shop.

If the buyer of your business purchases TMCad9 lite (around $300) and you provide then with a thumb drive (or similar) containing all of your .cdl files - then they can export any of your files as dxf, svg, ai, etc. Once they have exported/converted to a usable vector format, then they should be able to open them with most any of the available cad drawing programs - including Inkscape (free), CorelDraw ($105), Fusion 360 (free), QCad (free), SolidEdge 2D (free), etc.

If they have no need to edit them, then they can send the vector files directly to their laser cutter shop. That is what I do with some of my parts files - I email them to the laser cutter shop and pick up my parts when they are cut.

David

tmcad dxf export options.jpg

[adbuch]

I suppose it depends on which version of TMCad he has. I am only familiar with the TMCad9 which does allow for export of dxf, svg, ai, and several other formats.

David

David,

Yes the TM CAD & CAD Lite Ver 9 series allows many export options, however the TM 3 controller software with my early release Growth Series table only allows you to open an existing G-Code (.fgc format) or the import of a .dxf file to create a new G-Code file with.

My folder filling structure is as follows:
1- Save drawing file in native CorelDraw .cdr format (to retain it's editing options)
2- Exported from CorelDraw to dxf format (for import into TM Cad or SheetCam Programs)
2a- Note: I never have saved the CAD 9 software in it's native .cdl format as any changes here would not be seen in Sheetcam
3- DXF exported from CAD 9 software (for import into TM 3 controller software)
4- G-Code .fgc format on the cutting computers (TM 3 software)
4a- Some people have all programs on one computer, I do not as I like the comfort of the office for drawing.

I was curios how Andrew ran his filling structure and what his system requirements were on his table.

Steve

Steve - thanks for that explanation of your procedure. Since the OP has not said specifically what table/software version he has, I can only assume it is a newer version since he mentions he can export as dxf. I'm not really familiar with the TMCad hierarchy, so I don't know the specific software versions and if the controller software version corresponds to the cad software version.

For example - when you say "TM 3 controller software" - does this refer to the complete cad/cam program? Does the TMCad 9 software have the option to generate g-code in several different formats to match the particular controller?

David

TMCad export options 1.jpg

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Steve - thanks for that explanation of your procedure. Since the OP has not said specifically what table/software version he has, I can only assume it is a newer version since he mentions he can export as dxf. I'm not really familiar with the TMCad hierarchy, so I don't know the specific software versions and if the controller software version corresponds to the cad software version.

For example - when you say "TM 3 controller software" - does this refer to the complete cad/cam program? Does the TMCad 9 software have the option to generate g-code in several different formats to match the particular controller?

David

TMCad export options 1.jpg

David,

My machine came with 2 different software packages:

1- TM CAD / CAM Lite Ver 9 (updatable to full software version for extra $$) Drawing can be done here or imported into it from other programs like CorelDraw. You then create a tool path and add lead ins / outs. This file in my case is exported as a dxf file. (I just looked and it offers 3 different G-Code export options (gc 1-3) but no fgc option as required for the TM 3 software.

2- TM 3 controller software is on the cutting tables computer that is tied to the stepper motors controller box via the USB cable. This software allows only imports of the .dxf format then converts it to the .fgc G Code format after you add the cutting speed. Adding the cutting speed at this phase is handy as if you want the same part on a thicker / thinner piece of stock you just the import the same .dxf file and adjust / name accordingly.

Clear as mud right?

Steve

[adbuch]

Steve,

Perfectly clear to me. This would be analogous to one of the Plasmacam owners with an older table running on 3.11 using Design Edge for drawing/cut path creation, and then exporting as dxf for import to the 3.11 control software for cutting. The current Design Edge software is something like version 4.57 (that's what I have).

Their 3.11 software would reside on a pc connected to their controller via parallel port cable. Their Design Edge software could reside on the same pc, or on a separate pc and then the dxf file transferred via thumb drive, etc.

That's sort of the way I operate as far as file transfer goes. I do my design work in the office and the cutting out it the machine shop. I use thumb drives to move files from one pc to the other.



David

[SegoMan DeSigns]

David,

Multiple personality disorders are handy for those of us with 2 different brands of plasma tables with multiple software programs required to run them. The Growth Series by TM was engineered to the standards of "so simple a caveman can do it" yet it is lacking in features that SheetCam offers.

I also use the TM CAD / CAM 9 to repair the poly-spline infested DXF files that CorelDraw creates prior to outsourcing them to the higher end machines that the steel service centers use. Another option for those "infested" files is the "DXF Splines to Arcs 1.0" that CAD / KAS offers here:

https://www.cadkas.com/dxf-splines-to-arcs.php

I think it's entertaining how the high end tables chokes on the files that lower end machines adjust for automatically.

My TM table computer is networked via LAN cables and the 6x12 has WIFI transfer of files.

Steve

[adbuch]

Steve,

No network here. I bought the cables to run the internet from my office out into the machine shop, but never got around to installing it.
Design Edge is also great for "repairing" those dxf files with many disconnected path segments. It's called the Link/Join tool. TMCad is a much less expensive alternative, and the site you reference may be an even cheaper (free) alternative.

David

[adbuch]

Steve - I use the CorelDraw BSpline tool quite often and don't experience the problems you describe when exporting as dxf and opening with another program. B-spline dxf files from Inkscape do have the problem you describe. I never really worry about it since I am normally importing the Inkscape dxf to Design Edge and use the Link/Join tool as a matter of course.

My process for importing any dxf to Design Edge is
1. use the Detect Intersections tool
2. if intersections present - Expode
3. Link/Join


David

[SegoMan DeSigns]

David,

I use the BSpline as well as the other shape tools from the command bars, the objects pass the fill test prior to being exported as a fine line. The "Spline" problems were on some of the older Koikie, Retro and other hi end units. A lot of those problems were attributed to the IdTenT error codes the operators threw from not upgrading their software. These multiple codes and lack of resolve is what inspired me to get my own tables up and running. Ten years, 2 tables, 3rd on the drawing board, Press brake and multiple other shop machines I am truly thankful for the inspiration they gave me.

If you can't find a gopher willing to run network wiring you can bridge two WIFI routers like this (one of many videos on it) :

https://youtu.be/x0ult-Ln9hc?si=b-_d-UM-LshTMlXv

Steve

[adbuch]

Steve - I was planning to hard wire a wi-fi router to my main router using a long ethernet cable. I've got the cable and the additional router, just never got it hooked up. I was doing this mainly so I would have access to Fusion 360 out in the machine shop for use with my AvidCNC "machining center" project which is also an "ongoing back burner" project.

David

[SegoMan DeSigns]

David,

I have a combination of both LAN & bridged WIFI in my shop, they both work great even though they are going through 20 y/o 100 meg routers / switches on W/ CAT 5 cable..

Steve