In order to assist the support staff in helping you find the appropriate post processor, you will have to know as much about your machine as possible. To get started, they might want to see a PDF manual or code that already works with your CNC machine.
Then things get exciting. You will have to try out some code the support staff will supply you with. At this point you will typically be making some simple geometric shapes. Once that proves safe, you can take your hand off of the Emergency Stop button, relax and watch the projects come to life.
One of my very first projects at this point was a pencil holder. Simple, I know, but I had to get some experience here first. Besides, I needed one badly. So I got some scrap red wood and got started.
Below are a series of screen shots outlining the steps I made with HSMXpress. I started with a simple 2.5 axis project. You can see the steps required to make the holes to a tolerance that would loosely accept a pencil’s diameter. Don’t make them too tight or you will pick up the whole rack when you try to grab a single pencil.
Terminology, at this point, is something that will throw you for a loop if you are not already familair with machining procedures. I didn’t know what 'Peck Drilling' meant, or if my Laguna Swift Router could do it. My best advice here is to read a machinist’s book. I recommend a book from the Industrial Press Publisher.
As it was, I could do Peck Drilling and I was able to determine certain variables to control that motion. However, my CNC Router could not tap or thread inside of the holes; this would require a spindle motor reversal.
I was able to program a spot drill operation that would pinpoint the hole centers. These would then be drilled later using a larger drill.
I cut enough pieces, six in all, and glued a bottom piece with a top piece together. The holes are also in the bottom piece, but do not have the filleted edges.
It is not my intention to teach CAM programming here. I only want to alert you to this mysterious technical realm. I will warn you that once you start, there is no turning back. With every project, you will gain more confidence and experience – naturally leading to more and more complicated projects.
In addition, HSMXpress has many tutorials that will easily bring you up to speed. By hovering over a blank box, something will give you instant feedback on what the program is asking of you. It really is a lot of fun to see your program become something you can hold in your hands.