CNC Workflow: SketchUp, MakerCam, Universal Gcode Sender - 191

Subscribe for new videos every week. The actual information that a CNC machine uses to determine where to move is called G-code. There are many ways to not only transfer the G-code to the CNC but also to actually generate the G-code. Today I’m going to show you a simple workflow that can be used with SketchUp, MakerCam, and Universal G-code Sender.

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[cncnutz]

Great Video Jay,
It is videos like this that show how easy it is for the home woodworker to use a CNC machine.
Many people don't like these machines in the shop but the CNC machine is just another tool and are not seen by owners as the only tool in the shop. Like any tool it is good at some things and not good at others. The trick is to know the difference and use the right tool for the job.
Beware the CNC bug. There is always a bigger faster machine lurking in the wings once you catch the bug.
Cheers
Peter

[izzyswan]

Man Jay you keep on in pressing me with your direct to the point video packed full of very valuable info. Thanks man this will be a big help for me.

[redridgemillwork]

Thanks Jay for this. I find your precision style of explaining very easy to follow. No rambling or going off on tangents...just relevant facts. You’re a GOOD teacher man.
Best
Greg

[colelarson]

CNC is on the rise. Thanks for putting out these videos. That is one the best CNC workflow videos I have seen. Precise, short and to the point. Don't let the CNC haters discourage you.

[JohnHeisz]

Great reference Jay, thanks for putting this together!

[garren]

WOW.. Thanks Jay.. I ordered my shapeoko 2 last week and will be here in a few days. my wife and i had been trying to figure out how we wanted to make our designs, and your work flow just makes sense to me. I have seen other videos and they were overly complex. I love what your doing and appreciate your time spent helping the rest of use out... thanks again for another great video.

[TylerNewberry]

Very clear. Thank you for this. Simple. No fluff. Just the basics. Thank you!

[cjorg]

Thank you Jay, for the  Excellent video explaining and showing the process of 'CNC Workflow' by using a simple yet useful little project. Keep up the good work.

[MRrwmac]

Glad you found a way to get your sketchup working smoothly to interact with other software and produce the output! If I had a shapaoko, guess what my first objects would have been to cut for myself? Yep, knobs. Next would be gears and then I would try dovetails. Thanks for sharing!

[MrGmach]

Wow, talk about easy to follow. This was effortless to watch and understand. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in such a clear concise manner. I operate a Gravograph IS900 engraver (aka Shapeoko on steroids) on a daily basis at work and I wish the software was as easy to use as what you just showed. Thanks again Jay.

[SteveCarmichael]

Thanks for showing this to us Jay!  I have yet to try out MakerCam so this helps a lot! 

[baconsoda]

I wasn't going to watch this but gave it a go...and was fascinated.  I am not into computer stuff like editing etc but I loved this because of how you explained it and made it understandable.  You would make a good teacher (and I do know a bit about that).  Is this true to home woodworking - yes, so long as it's not the only process.  I think it's reasonable that if you have cut a load of knobs traditionally that you can use CNC to cut the rest because you've done the job yourself, you know how to do it, and can get on with something else while a machine saves you time on a job that has probably become boring.  The beauty of it is that you have all your files saved for future use so you only have to do the programming once.  I would like one of those machines but I don't like the programming bit so, if one of my mates ever gets one, I'll have his heart broken making things that I get bored making while I make something new and exciting.
Best Wishes, Brendan.

[abelnietoify]

Very impressed on how quick you have picked this up.Your looking like a pro already!!Great job buddy!!!And for everyone complaining this is just another tool for the shop, of coarse he's not going to use it for everything, the human hand is irreplaceable!It's just for intricate pieces that are not possible without.For example Jay makes a ton of fixtures and now he will no longer need to buy knobs!(Witch he would use square pieces of plywood for knobs) but nonetheless he will have some good looking knobs!LOL, I am super excited too see what he will build in the future, or how he will incorporate the Cnc in his builds!!Once again Awesome job!!

[mrmadman]

Very informative, concise and explained excellently, I am building a CNC machine and this is so useful. You certainly have a gift for tutorials.

[JimCoogan_CoogansWorkshop]

Very well done Jay.  You are a very good teacher and knowledge sharer.  I worked with CNC/Robotics for 3 decades and had fun with it.  I hope  to do what you are doing with the CNC Laser I just got.  I was going to buy the same unit you have but I decided on the laser because I actually needed it for my little business.  At a later date I will get a CNC mill like yours and a 3D printer.  Thanks for a sharing with us and handling the not so positive comments so well.  I don't watch the Shapeoko videos that have been posted because at this time I am more interested in sharpening other woodworking skills but this video was more about designing something and the workflow to move it to production.  Nice work.

[DIYTyler]

Am more jealous than I was before! So many very accurate things you can easily make using this process especially since you always started with sketchup anyway. Need to get my hands in these one of these days.

[envisionelectronics]

Excellent. I am just beginning my CNC build but have used Sketchup for years. I'm excited that my talent will not go to waste.

[handlaidtracksanddprinted]

Amazingly helpful video!
I'm working through the steps for my First Cut!
This makes the journey slightly more downhill...

[kelsozz]

I don't have one, won't get one, but I sure enjoyed your vid, and I know that anyone who has or is getting one will treasure this is it takes the woodworker from Sketchup, which we know, through all the new steps to a perfect part, and a part we can all relate to.  Great job.

[McGinnsWoodShop]

I didn't catch this until now.  This is EXACTLY what I was looking for!  Thanks for putting it all together so nicely!  I'll be sure to reference this path at the start of my video!