Shortly after joining the MillMage Beta in the fall of 2024 I experienced a health issue that, effectively, halted my working with both my grbl and Mach3 based CNC machines temporarily. It’s now been well over a year since I’ve done anything with those machines. Even my much-loved Omtech 60W laser saw little use during that time.
I’m now back to my usual self and am thrilled to see that MillMage is now ready to launch - but I’m having a hard time sorting through the notes to figure out the status and get back on track with things. I’ve spent quite a while going through all the threads and much of the documentation but there are a few questions that I’d sincerely appreciate some guidance or clarification on:
1 -I see that inlay operations now seem well sorted and that relief carving and v-carve are still not ready but development is continuing. There is however a new fluting operation. Is this similar to v-carving? it looks similar in many ways and I’m curious about the difference. Having previously done v-carve with Carbide Create, F-Engrave, and Fusion 360 (painful - but it is possible) I’d appreciate it if someone can please advise on it. I can see where it could be extremely useful.
2 - Most importantly, on the millmagesoftware.com web page the initial price for the “Core” version at launch is $99. Is it correct for me to assume that the core version contains all of the functionality that is currently available in the release candidate?
3 - There is also a “Pro” version mentioned at a launch price of $199. There is no description of pro features provided that I can find. Is Pro intended to be the version with relief carving (RC) and v-carve (VC) or is that planned functionality beyond RC and VC?
Any information, insights, or help that you can provide will be sincerely appreciated as I get back into my shop and restart/relearn things.
I appreciate the clarification. I’ll definitely be buying the core version and hope that the pro becomes available soon. I want to try out the fluting operations as, reading the (limited) information page, the functionality seems tantalizingly close to something I’ve been thinking about for a while. It will be nice to know more soon.
While digging, I had seen some reference to inlay being pulled from RC-19 - but no further detail. Hopefully that will be resolved shortly. It’s important functionality to me.
Like most of us, I’ve found that the CNC machines and laser are highly complimentary tools. Having done a hundred or so v-carved signs I’ve moved on to other fun stuff. As an example, Boxes, trays, bowls, and other 3 dimensional objects are something I like to do. The CNCs are great for carving the shape and the laser is incredible for engraving, cutting and inlaying veneers, etc. I’ve also done some relief carving with the CNC and want to do much more - but it’s very slow to model and carve.
The fluting operations seem like a possible way of creating some relief style detail carving without resorting to 3D modeling and the slow full relief carving operation. I’d been thinking of falling back into using Fusion for that but, frankly, it’s too much time and effort. Life is too short for that.
Thanks Rick, I’ve seen those over the last few days and am thrilled to see the launch approaching. I’m anxiously looking forward to the Pro version release but understand, and trust the team in not releasing until they get it right. That’s the philosophy that made Lightburn what it is today.
Fluting is running the bit along a line with varying depth. It can produce similar results to V-carving in certain cases, but they work differently.
V-carving keeps the bit between two edges, and varies the depth based on the distance between those edges. Fluting just follows a line and varies the depth based on a depth curve type you choose - Ramped, curved, etc.
All of these shapes were made just with the Fluting toolpath:
Thanks Oz, So taking from your description and the documentation page, the ramps (entry and exit) are definable by type (linear, fall, arc, ogee, and smooth) with the flat representing the maximum depth of cut region. Depth of cut being definable by either direct entry OR derived from the max cut width. Is that correct? If so, that’s really COOL, and very close to to what I was imagining!
I’m excited at the chance to give it a try soon.
Thanks Oz, I just downloaded the release version of MillMage and tried running it. The application states that I have a valid license but that it is expired. I gather that it’s tied to one of the earlier beta builds. Is there a process I need to follow to get the trial release version (0.8.00) to run? I will be purchasing the core build but wanted to check the state of the release first.
Hopefully, it is something you can share with us.
