When we get requests from new users for the "Software" for their CNC's, most often they are referring to the program used to control & send G-code to your CNC. Aside from using an offline controller, these programs are the only way to operate your machine. As something so vital, it's understandable that customers would assume that this software is included with their CNC.
While we do provide Candle, our program of choice, on the CD that comes with your machine, it's important to note that it is just that; a choice. Our CNC's operate based off of our own flavor of an Open Source, community driven firmware called GRBL.
Due to GRBL's popularity with numerous different CNC's, many open source PC controllers are avalible for users of our machines, the majority being free to use and modify without restrictions. As mentioned before, here at SainSmart we tend to prefer Candle, but the choice is entirely up to you! Some alternatives include bCNC and Universal Gcode Sender (UGS).
For today, though, we will be focusing on Candle to show you how to set up up and use it for multiple operations. This guide is meant as an independent continuation of the last one we posted, which was a continuation of our first new guide.
If you haven't already, please take a look at the prior guides linked next, along with this one, our newest and last addition to this set of guides and leave any questions or comments below!
- Fusion 360 Quick-Start Guide for CNC's
- Fusion 360 Guide to Understanding Roughing & Finishing Passes
- How to Set Up & Use Candle for Multiple CNC Operations
3 comments
How I calibrate limits in Candle? Because I never finish any work using the Candle software, the machine always starts machining and stops without going forward, when I try to close the program it returns a message asking me if I really want to close it because there is work in progress, but if I leave it it remains static without doing anything. What I saw is that sometimes (not always) a message appears check your limits
I love Vandle, but it is not easy to get the files to use it, anybody has a site pay/free to get the file models …
Hello,
Does Candle handle 2.5D milling?
Thx