hi there Ive just got my workbee machine up and running after a long absence (input socket ripped off control board and was 150 to replace!!) and in the interim have been thinking and watching about 3d terrain models.....specifically the mountains in wales and the lakes that i have walked up!! So i have sussed out generating the STL files in TouchTerrain and Terrian2STL....got me 3d STL files. I downloaded VectricVcarve (trial version!) which lets you import the STL and superinpose it on your stock etc but dosnt let you export it to openbuild CONTROL in order to machine it!!! Has anyone figured a cheap way of getting the STL file converted into tool paths and gcode that openbuilds CONTROL can read? I kinda know that i may need to spash the cash... but vectric is too expensive for me!!! thoughts...tips etc would be greatly appreciated ...cheers roy in sheffield
Fusion 360 will import a STL file and with the OpenBuilds addon to Fusion you may be able an output file for Control. I said 'may' since I'm not sure if the addon will do it. Fusion 360 is free.
Estlcam is not free, but will let you output gcode for free on a trial basis. I have used it for terrain maps on my GRBL machine.
Trials doesn't allow export. Works fine though and really worth the price, one of the best CAMs there is. Only one other free option for 3D but its painful, see docs:software:overview [OpenBuilds Documentation] time spent learning Kiri might outweigh the price of vectric unless time is free
Vcarve Desktop will make machining stl files so easy. I absolutely love it. It is pricey, but you keep the software for ever unlike Carveco which is a monthly subscription. You can do it with Fusion 360, but it may require you to convert the mesh file (stl) to a solid. Which Fusion does (convert mesh).
