3018 CNC Getting Started Guide With the Raising Awesome Carver

I bought a 3018 CNC engraver. I quickly found, like many do, that the there is no software that comes with it. It points you to an older open source software package developed over a decade ago. It works decent, but for the casual hobbyist, it can be a bit frustrating.

So, I thought, it would be nice to have something more modern - like 3D with all kinds of smarts. So, I started developing my own custom software just as I'd like to have it.

This Instructable will show fellow 3018 owners (or any Arduino GRBL based CNC machines) how to get started using my Raising Awesome Carver.

• Amazon.com : 3018 CNC (Optional)
• Raising Awesome Carver

First, to get the free Windows software, go to the following address:

Raising Awesome Carver

From there, you can click the download link. Place it wherever you want the software to be stored on your machine. Right click and extract.

Once it unpacks, double click on the EXE file to launch. It will create a folder in your documents called RaisingAwesomeCarver where some gcode templates are placed. You can also place your own gcode there as well in the folder titled User.

When you launch the program, you can choose two modes: Simulation or Carve.

Simulation is great for experimenting with GCode. You can simulate a carve even without owning a CNC. If you do have a CNC hooked up, choose Connect.

Once it loads, click the Hamburger icon on the upper right. This will show you how to control the CNC.

I've designed it to be easily controlled using a laptop or general PC keyboard. Arrow keys make rapid moves. WASD makes micro moves. Slap the space bar to do an Emergency Stop or reset it if it doesn't respond.

You don't need a CNC to play around with the virtual CNC and learn how to operate one.

Here is a summary of the controls:

• Arrow Keys - fast Drive
• WASD - micro Drive in small increments (hold shift for 4x the micro speed)
• O (as in Origin) - return to the origin position with 20 mm retracted (z=20mm)
• Zero (0) - set the current spindle position as the origin (0, 0, 0)
• X - zero the X axis (left to right)
• Y - zero the Y axis (away from you)
• Z - zero the Z axis (spindle up/down)
• U - move the spindle up to 20 mm
• T - move the spindle to the top of the work piece (Z=0mm)
• Page Up - Rotate the camera up over the CNC
• Page Down - Rotate the camera down
• Mouse Scroll - Zoom the Camera
• P - pause the carve or simulation (good for reading errors in Gcode on the display)
• S - slow the care or simulation (good for reading errors in Gcode on the display)
• Space Bar - Emergency Stop or Reset if the Arrow Keys are not responding to the arrow keys
• Mouse Click - move the spindle to the place clicked on the work area.
• ESC - cancel a carve or exit the application

To try out the templates I have been making, click the sketchbook to the right of the CNC. This will pull up a special file browser.

Go to the Blueprints folder to pick a program. Click Simulate to watch it carve!

To make my own etch programs, the program Inkscape is my first choice. For exotic 3D carving, Autodesk Fusion 360 is the most awesome choice. You can also just browse out an SVG, PNG, JPG, or BMP. Just drop them in your Documents/RaisingAwesomeCarver directory somewhere and use the sketchbook in the software to call them up. Last, you can tap "f" for Free Draw and draw right on the workpiece. Click "C" to carve it.

If you click on an image file, it will convert them to GCode for you. It is highly recommended you use "Simulate" first to ensure you are happy with the scale of your graphic and there are no errors. Use your graphic editor of choice for the scaling and modifying your images.

For Inkscape, you can get it by clicking the icon in the sketchbook or go directly to here: Draw Freely | Inkscape

Here are the steps to create a carving program for use with the Raising Awesome Carver:

1. Get a clipart of choice.
2. Paste it into Inkscape
3. Right click and choose Trace Bitmap
4. Click Update
5. Delete the original bitmap off the Inkscape Page
6. Click Extensions-->Path to GCode. Specify your Blueprints directory as the export directory in the dialog.

With the defaults, you will get a gcode program that carves your design 1mm deep.

Just in time for Father's Day, our first project was a small National Forest sign for my dad. We found a picture from back when we used to fish the North Fork of the Cherry River in Southeast West Virginia and played around with the contrast until we could convert to an SVG with Inkscape. With Autodesk Fusion 360, we generated the G-Code and it turned out great.

So, that's it! I hope you will get a lot more out of your 3018 CNC and can now be able to build confidence in its use. The Raising Awesome Carver is a great teaching tool for early learners as well - even without owning a CNC.

Comment below if you have any ideas for new features. This software is my present hyper-obsession and I update it daily. Have fun!

See ya',

Sean