SAi product director EJ Nodurft illustrates the importance of the software that drives CNC routers. This includes factors concerning software choice, tools, applications and where the CNC market is headed.
Considerations when choosing software
As in many businesses, knowing what you are trying to do is a major advantage. It may sound facetious, but if it’s a company with a well-defined niche, then it will be a fairly straightforward choice. However, a business just setting up, or adding a new CNC capability, will need to think carefully about the service it wants to offer, which will influence its choice of software.
To begin with, there are two parts to the equation: designing and cutting. CNC routing differs from other cutting operations. In CNC routing, unlike plasma, knife and waterjet, not only is the kerf taken into account, but the depth of cut and the profile of the cutting tools also must be considered. The right choice of software for the applications undertaken is therefore crucial to ensuring operational efficiency.
The type of materials to be cut are important, too, because they will determine the feed rate, the cutting direction, the number of passes needed and other factors. Controlling these accurately will be important to some businesses to minimise time while still achieving a cut with good edge quality.
Production flexibility is a major factor
Finding a software that will allow businesses to address a wide range of applications, each of which is a potential revenue stream, will give them a bigger market. Most programmes have limitations of some type and understanding what they are before investing in one can make a huge difference.
For example, some software packages may have good toolpathing abilities to support aggregate heads, tool compensation and drill banks, but not be good at 3D decorative and graphic production. Programmes that are good at artistic jobs and graphic production do not typically have the toolpath capabilities mentioned. Conversely, the EnRoute CAD CNC software solution was developed to do the heavy lifting when it comes to day to day cutting and production. At the same time, it enables users to go after artistic decorative jobs, too.
Main attributes users should look for from CAD/CAM/CNC software
Users want software that is easy to learn and to have good training and support. They want the ability to apply accurate and reliable toolpaths that will result in good parts being cut. Control over the toolpath output to help with material hold-down and cutting efficiency is another preference. Also, they want good nesting capabilities to reduce cut times and material waste. Not all options out there actually offer this, so I would always encourage users to thoroughly research what’s available to ensure it offers the right level of functionality.
Principal tools
The most important tools are the ones that give customers the best results from their CNC machines. The clean-up tool is a good example because it allows users to optimise the shapes they are cutting. This means that contours are converted to the most efficient use of lines and arcs, which is the primary method of outputting with G-Code. Programmes that don’t do this well can result in jobs with poor edge quality. The control that EnRoute gives over the toolpath, along with the ability to save and re-use toolpaths easily, is a very powerful feature.
Specific applications to which EnRoute is suited
Versatility is one of EnRoute’s best qualities. The two biggest markets for the software are signmaking and woodworking, but it’s important to note there are different segments to these markets. There are the more basic 2D elements: shape cutting and push-through letters, in signmaking; and standard box-cutting (rectangles and circles) in woodworking, both with true shape nesting. Those are the bread-and-butter jobs.
Then, there is the segment that involves 3D V-carving, 3D surfacing textures and 3D objects that can be cut on a CNC router. This includes all of the millwork in woodworking and the decorative work that brings in extra revenue. For signmaking, this can be more complex textures for letters and backgrounds; these greatly increase the value of a sign. Regardless of the market, people are always looking for new ways to make money with their equipment, and EnRoute provides the tools for both 2D and 3D work.
Types of CNC machines that are best for use with EnRoute
EnRoute is primarily suited for 3-axis CNC routers. EnRoute Fabrication can be used for plasma, waterjet and laser cutters. However, about 90 per cent of EnRoute sales are for CNC routers.
3D printing
3D printing has probably had a bigger impact on prototyping than on the sign and woodworking markets. Prototyping was never a big market for EnRoute, and I don’t see 3D printing having a big effect on signmaking or woodworking.
There is some opportunity for making large 3D parts and moulds, but it would take too long to 3D print a simple 2D cut-out for a sign or cabinet component compared to a CNC router. For those reasons and because 3D printing software is widely available and often free, we don’t see an opportunity for SAi there.
CNC routers are becoming more and more prevalent in both the woodworking and signmaking industries. Different regions have different growth potentials. In North America, textured signs are a growing trend.
In Europe and Asia, most of the work done is 2D cutting, so developing a more advanced toolpathing ability will be an area of focus. No lift toolpaths and more efficient ways to remove material are other areas we will focus on for future features for EnRoute.
SAi www.thinksai.com
