I have seen a couple of references to a CNC router operating system, and wondered how close it is?
I don’t want to spend the small fortune of money and time required to adopt cad/cam software from another vendor, if my favourite laser software company have something on the way.
I am using Easel at the moment, but need more than it can offer more and more often, and my new machine has a 4th axis…so its upgrade time.
Be aware that MillMage is targeting 2.5D operations so 4-axis machining is not the current target ability.
I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn since it was publicly discussed. The LightBurn team didn’t commit to a specific date but indicated that this was being targeted for the earlier rather than later part of next year. Take that with a healthy dose of salt, however.
I look forward to seeing it, looks like I will stick with my existing combo for a while longer.
It will be interesting to see how this develops, easel only got to grips with STL imports this year, but I would have thought the experience they have with laser rotary devices would transfer without too much screaming and drumming of heels!
As long as it can manage multiple tool paths, easily accessible, and managed, I am sure it will be a hit.
The number of times I have been messing with Lightburn and thought “this would be great on my CNC”, is beyond measure.
Don’t expect a lot in the first iteration. I think it will be more of a proof of concept. From what I saw there is no Vcarve. And if so it will be a no-go for me until then.
I personally wished they would have taken the vetric approach and integrated it into Lightburn.
The first iteration is always going to require work.
I will invest, as the funds will help the next one, and I prefer to keep “in the family” where possible.
I am sure they will quickly have a superb system, which won’t force me to pull my hair out every time I use it…Carveco, I am looking at you here!!
While electronics is natural for me, I’m guilty of not getting interested in digital back in the 70’s. I’ve tried to learn stuff like Fusion360, but it’s too advanced for my simpler needs. I just started a trial of LightBurn, and am finding it way more intuitive than anything else I’ve tried. But my main focus is to create text engravings in aluminum, using my custom-built CNC router. I would love the chance to purchase and beta-test MillMage asap.
The difference between the two is how the operations work. Vectric is operations based on shape.
LightBurn is operations based on layer. This works great for lasers but is a real hinderance with a CNC router because you may use 1 shape in 3 completely different ways. With LightBurn it would require 3 copies of the shape.
We spent a long time deliberating over this. In the end we could have added a CNC plug-in and made something passable, or we could make a stand alone program and make something really good.
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