CNC driver

Ref machine’s like the CNC 3018 pro – any ideas for driving it?

I think you’ll need to be a bit more specific. My search indicates that the CNC3018 is a machine with a controller board that operates at a pretty low level, so you need other software to bring it up to a human-useful level. It looks like there is such software for Linux, Windows and MacOS. Is none of the above satisfactory for you?

Edited to add: Getting the machine to move may not be all that difficult. Getting it to domething useful is likely to be hugely more difficult.

CNC 3018 pro

For machining parts, Gcode is easy enough to produce, you would have to decide what tool offset method to use. Using dimensions that take the tool radius into account was more reliable than using the inbuilt auto offset Gcodes on the old plasma cutter I used.
Graphics type conversions would be too lengthy unless it is something you re-use.
Inbuilt gcode radius cutting routine:
Maintaining a direction of travel you need to calculate x and y offsets to the center of the radius you are cutting. Edit: if the offset has been allowed for by resizing, direction of travel not so important, though a router may like feeding into the material against the bit rotation.
Co-ordinates could be initiallised to be relative or absolute by a Gcode instruction.
More abstract curves ideally can be broken down to radius’s but computer power is now probably great enough to do small increments of co-ordinates and still move the tool smoothly.
This is also the likely gcode output from a cnc cad program, but if there is a machine specific low level cad tool available, it is likely it will sidestep gcodes and perform better.
(based on my own experience, not on your machine.)

ProCAM seems to do a lot of the work….
“ProCAM converts ProCAD+ drawings both to and from fully functional CNC
part-programs. These may be downloaded straight into a CNC milling
machine, eliminating all the complexities, time and errors associated with
manual programming.”

If the machine uses gcode, ProCAM should be do the job. Is free not but not free for download. You can visit http://www.cornant.uk/riscos/ and contact Chris.
He send me a copy (m)any years ago (10) and it was working with the machine we used at this time.

Raik
Sorry to have to inform you but Chris passed away from cancer several years ago. He lived relatively close tome and I visited his workshop where he used to make custom chainrings etc using the output from Procad / procam to operate a Bridgeport milling machine which he converted from manual to computer driven. Can’t remember the full details but I think he initially had a BBC model b driving the mill.
Very talented and sorely missed. His website is still active and is worth reading for his epic cycle rides across Europe while fighting cancer.

That’s very sad. RIP.
His website is still alive but no information directly visible.
Is there someone who manages his software?
I have the copy he send but can I give it out?

Highpath engineering seems still working – I wonder if someone like Andrew R could contact them about distribution of the CNC software?

I have take a look to the !Help file.
“ProCAM is free software but its copyright remains with its author,
Chris Bell. It may be freely distributed but not for material gain.”
So if you have an interest, contact me.

I can confirm that ProCAM works with CNC3018pro machnies. I have recently done some tests.
Started to draw a sketch with ProCAD+ then transfered the file to ProCAM where I selected right tool, milling dept and spindle speed, saved the output file as /NC file and milled with the CNC machine. No manual coding needed.

If it is helpful, I’m in semi-regular contact with Chris’ wife, as she still uses RISC OS. I am sure she’d be happy to know the people are still using his software. I’m not sure how accessible some of the items will be (Chris had a variety of machines), but if there’s anything specific needed, it can’t hurt to ask.

I have also contact to Chris widow. I had success via highpath.
He has send any questions and I give the answers.
I hope I or an other people can add any improvements and do the further development. ProCAM is in Basic.
My additionals are available for free.

There’s a version of Linuxcnc for the pi…
I’d go for something proven, unless you are a dev.
Even easier or cheaper is a 3d printer control board.