Chapter 7. Modeling Software to Machine
Computer-aided manfacturing or CAM software is where the virtual design converges with the physical material and machine. In the past, programming toolpaths and operating CAM software were the realm of expert machinists. Recently, however, there’s been an explosion of affordable, user-friendly CAM programs to set up your project for fabrication. “Programming toolpaths” is now far simpler than it sounds. Rather than write code from scratch, modern CAM software interfaces help you create cutting definitions for the parts you want to machine.
From CAD to CAM
As introduced in Chapter 2, a CNC uses a specialized tool called an end mill to cut and carve a digital design. The machine follows user-defined toolpaths, ...
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