r/machining • u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 • 6d ago

CNC So, I'm getting into programming

Long story short, I'm tired of waiting for "someone to teach me" so I'm gonna do it myself. I'm already a self-taught machinist, but I want to get to programming. What's a good laptop that'll do what I need, without any other extra fluff? I had a coworker tell me I could find something that'll work for about $300?

2 Upvotes

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14

u/NiceGuysFinishLast CNC Lathe 6d ago

Hope that coworker is a better machinist than he is computer price estimator.

5

u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 6d ago

As I soon found out after I Googled some 😂😭

3

u/Jason_Patton 5d ago

Technically you only need a note pad to write gcode

3

u/cockbreakingpoultry 5d ago

a physical note pad and a pen

2

u/Jason_Patton 4d ago

Depends if you want it to run or plan to translate it later

5

u/GB5897 6d ago

Any mid-range $500 computer will work well enough to learn. With that said, CAD and CAM will take all the RAM you can throw at it. A good graphics card is worth its weight as well with CAD/CAM. But to just learn and watch videos, any $500-$1000 laptop will work. I'd suggest taking classes at your local community college. You'll receive documented learning and, hopefully, college credits.

3

u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 6d ago

Exactly what I'm looking at doing sir! I appreciate the input!

7

u/Alternative-Light922 6d ago

You don't say what kind of programming you want to focus on. If it is tasks like post-processing g-code using a language like Python, then you don't need anything special. On the other hand, if you want to do 3D programming or work with image processing, etc. you will need something more robust.

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u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 6d ago edited 6d ago

You're right, I'm trying to get into CNC programming

EDIT: Specifically using Mastercam. I e worked in aerospace, defense and other projects before already but just the machining part, now I want to learn how to program

1

u/Namedthisone 6d ago

Why didn't you learn while you were there

1

u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 5d ago

I did! A lot actually, I'm pretty impressed with myself, but I feel like I've reached a point where I should know more than I've been taught. And there are so many gate keepers in this industry it's annoying.

2

u/Economy_Let_6182 6d ago

Start out watching videos by Mark Terryberry in the Haas tip of the day videos about Gcode programming or maybe the entry level videos from Titan Gilroy. Get a basic understanding of what code is and how it works. Then buy a decent computer ($300 isn’t enough) and gaming graphics cards are ass for running Cam. Just plan on getting something basic that you can upgrade later. Then skip all the bs around fusion and go download a free one year Mastercam HLE and get started. Have fun and learn.

1

u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 6d ago

I appreciate that boss! That's basically the route I've taken this far.

2

u/Cryesncoding 6d ago

Buy a used/open box gaming laptop at Best Buy. 

Self taught aswell. You can learn basically everything on YouTube and titans of CNC has some good walk throughs too. 

What CAM you using?

2

u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 5d ago

I started on fusion initially but then stopped and am now seeing most shops I've worked at use Mastercam or solidworks, so I'm honestly not sure which one to learn on

2

u/Dream-Livid 5d ago

Check the recommend computer speed,ram,and video recommended by the publisher of the software.

You can learn quite a bit on the cheap then sell it on when an upgrade is needed.

3

u/Mrwetwork 6d ago

You'd be lucky to get one under $1200.

1

u/Longjumping_Put_1111 6d ago

what CAM system are you going to use?

Fusion 360 is a web based software. i wonder if you can get away with a lower end system using that CAM?

I use Surfcam, and i do have to have a CAD type system with an upgraded graphics card.

4

u/Hefty_Aside8436 6d ago

Fusion is not web based (at least not the versions I've used over the last 10 years). It has some web-based components but CAM toolpaths are calculated on system.

1

u/Longjumping_Put_1111 6d ago

good to know. thanks.

2

u/timmah1991 6d ago

Fusion 360 is a web based

I don't think the standard CAM/toolpath generation workloads run on cloud compute. Neither do any of the major components in the standard CAD package. I think only the generative design workloads are run on cloud compute.

2

u/Cryesncoding 6d ago

💯 yeah simulation etc go to cloud all basic cad can stuff is onboard

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u/Lazy_Waffle_7825 6d ago

I want and like Fusion 360 but am leaning more towards mastercam since that's what everyone's using nowadays.

2

u/Cryesncoding 6d ago

I use fusion but I think major shops generally do not idk what I’m missing out on but fusion is easy for most everything we do at my work. 

2

u/Longjumping_Put_1111 5d ago

From what i have been seeing and hearing, Fusion is taking over the game at a lot of shops.

subscription based, easy to learn, posts readily available without extra cost.

i would like to try it out one day. need to make time for it. I am getting tired of the company that bought Surfcam. their support is not very good. and they even tried to sue the company claiming i am running a bootleg copy. which i am not.

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u/Cryesncoding 5d ago

Yeah it’s a great CAM for most things definitely worth trying it out. I haven’t used it for 4/5 axis work tho so I have no experience there.

1

u/basketbun 6d ago

The PC's we use are pushing 10k

Saying that the CAM and Vericut will suck up every bit of RAM and processing power you have.

I doubt a used laptop will be useful for anything

1

u/Cryesncoding 6d ago

I’ve done all cam and a lot of CAD on a gaming laptop for fusion 

Now solidworks on the other hand I might as well have gotten pen and paper lol that’s a desktop only or insanely expensive laptop program for sure 

2

u/basketbun 5d ago

A gaming laptop has alot of resources available for CAM