Another lost newbe

[GrandpawB]

I'm Dale. I just finished building my first CNC router and joined this forum. If I bought the PhotoVCarve program, what else do I need to start making photos in wood? Please answer so a newbe can understand. I haven't learned the CNC lingo yet.

[Leo]

You will need cutters - "V" grooving and Ball Nose cutters.

[Rcnewcomb]

Have you watched these PhotoVcarve tutorials? ->Link

What else do you want to do with your CNC machine?

Do you already have any other drawing programs?

What other woodworking tools and skills do you already have?

[GrandpawB]

Have you watched these PhotoVcarve tutorials? ->Link
Yes, I've three of them.

What else do you want to do with your CNC machine?
Military portraits.

Do you already have any other drawing programs?
I have Sketchup and CorelDraw X4

What other woodworking tools and skills do you already have?[/quote]
Pretty much anything that goes into a wood shop ~I have it.

Pertaining to my question, I'm referring to software. Does Photocarve send the image or code to another software program?

[Rcnewcomb]

Does Photocarve send the image or code to another software program?

This link will help with some terminology: ->Link

Your CNC machine needs control software that tells it how to convert those movement commands into signals for the motors. Many people who build their own CNC machines use Mach3. There are others as well. Do you know what control software you are using on your CNC machine?

from Step 3 in the link above:
Once you are happy the Toolpaths are correct then they can be saved in a format that is appropriate for your particular CNC.
So the final step with PhotoVcarve (or any of the other Vectric programs) is saving the toolpaths out to a file. This file contains instructions on where to move the tool to make your design. The first time you use PhotoVcarve you will have to select your machine or control software from a dropdown list.

Let us know if this makes sense to you so far.

[GrandpawB]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I just bought "The CNC Cookbook". I want to learn all I can about hobby CNC.

[Adrian]

This is an excellent document and is free - http://www.vectric.com/media/docs/suppo ... ic2013.pdf

[zeeway]

My approach was to read the posts here and at cnczone.com. I also asked a lot of dumb questions...and still do.

Angie