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MillMage Documentation

website·Indexed 31 days ago

https://docs.millmagesoftware.com/0.8/

Documentation for MillMage version 0.9, a software suite providing CAD design, CAM toolpath generation, and direct machine control. It includes guides on 3D relief carving, probing wizards, and operation settings for drilling, chamfering, texturing, and fluting, as well as hardware compatibility and user guides for LightBurn users.

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What's inside MillMage

  1. Overview of Surfacing operations

    Surfacing operations use a large diameter tool to rapidly remove material from a wasteboard to create a flat surface parallel to the CNC machine's X and Y axis movement planes. This removes high spots to ensure material stock remains flat and level for consistent cut depths.

    Critical Safety Warning: The tool always starts cutting from the outside in, with the center of the tool running along the shape perimeter. If the assigned shape is at or near the dimensions of the cutting area, the tool may cut outside the working area by half of the tool diameter.

    Shape Requirements: Surfacing mode only works with closed shapes (complete, continuous loops where start and end points are the same). Open shapes are not supported.

  3. Overview of MillMage CNC software capabilities

    MillMage is a comprehensive program for CNC routers that combines design, CAM, and machine control. Key capabilities include:

    • Creating and editing graphics, vector paths, and text.
    • Assigning CNC routing operations to shapes to generate toolpaths for any CNC running standard GCode.
    • Modifying GCode output for specific firmware without external post-processors.
    • Direct connection and control for machines running GRBL, Smoothieware, and common GRBL variants.

  4. Overview of MillMage Probing capabilities

    MillMage provides a Probing Wizard to automate the process of determining workpiece origin points and measuring tool lengths. It supports two primary probing types:

    1. XYZ Probing: Determines the zero point on a workpiece in up to three dimensions and applies the corresponding work offset.
    2. Tool Length Probing: Measures the length of a loaded tool and applies a Z-axis offset, typically used after tool changes to avoid re-zeroing the axis.

  5. Overview of the MillMage Art Library

    The Art Library is used to store artwork for quick access and reuse in future projects. It supports a variety of objects including text, primary shapes, paths, and images. Multiple libraries can be loaded simultaneously to organize artwork by theme or purpose.

    Important Constraint: The Art Library only stores the artwork itself (similar to SVG or DXF files); it does not store operation settings. To save operation settings with a design, use a .mage project file or the Operations Library.

  6. Overview of the Edit Nodes tool

    The Edit Nodes tool allows for precise, granular edits to vector paths by controlling nodes (anchor points), straight lines, and curves. Curves are managed via handles (tangents) that appear on the nodes at either end of the curve. To use this tool, objects must be vector paths; Text Objects, Primary Shapes, and Barcodes must be converted to paths and ungrouped before editing.

  9. Overview of V-Carving operations

    V-Carving operations use an angled V-Bit to create variable-width carvings. They are used for signs, decorative engraving, and personalization. V-Carving on open paths produces sharp valleys (similar to fluting), while closed shapes result in pockets with chamfered edges. Flat-bottomed finishes can be achieved by limiting the maximum depth of cut and using finer stepover values.

  10. Overview of MillMage Nesting Options

    MillMage provides three ways to arrange objects to minimize material waste. True Nest is the most advanced integrated option, available only in MillMage Pro, as it nests based on the actual shape of objects and works locally without an internet connection.

  11. Overview of Drill operations

    Drill operations command the router to move in a straight downward motion. They are always executed at the center of the assigned shape. For circular shapes, the operation occurs at the center regardless of diameter; for non-circular shapes, the operation occurs at the center of the shape's selection box.