The SOFTWARE (Included)

1.   INKSCAPE:  is a very full featured drawing program used much like CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator .  While it has a lot of tools made for drawing and illustration , it also has good basic vector drawing tools and CAD type features like Object Snap, Grid Snap, Construction lines , Precision XY placement, and extensive Object Path Options like: UNION (weld) , DIFFERENCE (punch out) and the ability to COMBINE and BREAK APART Paths from Objects.  Inkscape is used by hundreds of CNC designers.  It runs on Windows OR LINUX so you can move drawings back and forth with no problem.  While it imports and exports a wide range of both Vector and Bitmap formats , it works natively in SVG, which can be imported DIRECTLY into a lot of other programs, and DIRECTLY into SHEETCAM TNG and preserves the native ARCs, CURVES , CIRCLES and BEZIER CURVES that some other formats do not .
2.  SHEETCAM.   A very full featured CAM program that will import Vector Drawings in DXF, SVG and WMF formats .   It lets you define a set of CONTOURS into a LAYER (Group) and setup an OPERATION using a TOOL from a TOOL TABLE (library) .  Plasma tools included custom settings like the KERF WIDTH, the PIERCE AND CUT HEIGHTS, and the PRESET VOLTAGE for that tool to get the correct cut height.   We included custom TOOL TABLES .   All of you cut settings are embedded IN THE G-CODE and set automatically by COMMANDCNC™. SheetCAM has a rich set of NESTING features that let you bring in multiple PARTS (different drawings) and place them on a sheet of any size and to perform actions like DUPLICATE, MATRIX , ROTATE and be moved on the sheet as one part , a group of parts or as multiple parts selected with a Drag box.   You can manually nest a whole sheet of parts in a short amount o f time and then cut those parts in any order you want and even excluded any operations you want.   SHEETCAM gives you total control of HOW you cut,  and our custom POSTS give you automation features you simple don’t get in other packages..   Want to use a Plate Marker in the same job as the plasma?  Our POSTS let you do that  with just a tool selection .  It knows which outputs to sue for OFF and on and what kind of OFFSETS to apply tot he tool .  Want to slap on a rotary Engraver or a router and cut out objects with inside or outside contours?  Want some POCKETS (cut to  depth) with multiple passes?   Well,  SHEETCAM lets you do those operations too.   Its a really capable 2D and 2.5D routing and milling tool.  Router POSTS (with Semi – Auto Toolchange ) are included.
3. COMMANDCNC.    CommandCNC™ is an expanded version of LINUXCNC with an advanced User Interface (Single Main Screen with collectible sub screens)   It features a GUI setup tool called a CONFIGURATOR that lets you define how the table works and lets you control options and motor settings with simple tabs and input boxes.   Designed as a general purpose CNC control program it uses a custom unique REAL TIME KERNEL in LINUX that lets the motion engine get real time feedback form to/from all the inputs and values while code is running.   This allows for control not possible with Windows type platforms and offers features like:

• Velocity Anti-Dive (VAD) that senses the ACTUAL Feedrate in REAL TIME and provides that information to the DTHC to adjust HOW it cuts .  SO when the motion slows for a corner the DTHC prevents the torch from seeing the normal voltage spike that causes and the resulting torch dive.  
• Advanced Toolpath Tracking. Unlike a lot of control systems that just try to keep the cut velocity as high as possible and allow the toolpath to deviate,  you can set how close or how loose you want the toolpath to follow the cut lines .  Like a road race it knows the capabilities of your mechanics and adjusts the speed and acceleration to stay on the path.   Without VAD that would result in a lot of torch diving, but it locks out the dives and it slows down.   Complex designs cut nice and clean/ Normally you keep it on the highest accuracy setting (done in G-code) .   If you have a particularity ragged cut file you can change the setting to let it “Smooth” the cut bu allow it to optimize the tool path of speed versus accuracy.
• Custom Sub-Routines that add features that enhance operation.

4. LINUX  is a fast, open source OS that doe snot pack a bunch of programs into a Single User Space and it will not phone home and do an update in the middle of a job!   It lets YOU pick what runs and only loads the app if you tell it to.  So the Browser is not “built in”  even the Desktop is a separate program.   You can even specify WHICH processor (if you have multiple processors) a specific application runs in .  Its TRUE multitasking .   Its Optimized (in this case) to RUN A CNC MACHINE.  Its not setup to be a multimedia user experience and run videos and play music ,  (although there are programs to make that happen if you want)  Its a GOOD, STABLE. LEAN. HIGH SPEED Operating SYSTEM that is constantly updated and its  FREE!   
5. VCARVE (from Vectric ).   While NOT INCLUDED, VCarve and VCarve PRO and the higher end  other products like ASPIRE and Cut 3D  are supported by the inclusion of a custom CommandCNC POST(s) .  It allows tables with Routers and Spindles to be used to cut complex shapes and carvings .   With Support for TOOLCHNAGE and our wide range or router options you can turn out artwork and signage on the same table you cut flat metal on. While VCARVE and the other products are not free, they offer a capability that you simply cannot get with other programs.   From the vector import and editing tools to the 3D toolpath with a 3D simulation  to the CAM features and tooltables  you can do just about any type of cutting that can be done with a 3 axis machine.

OTHER SOFTWARE   . One of the things that set CANDCNC apart is the wide range of options and extensions you can get to enhance your cutting operations.   One really popular one is our ROTARY PIPE/TUBE  CUTTING  plugin for SHEETCAM.  Using the optional 5th axis ALL Of our controllers offer , you can setup a permanent rotary axis on your plasma table that adds the ability to DESIGN and CUT pipe and round tubing.   PipeFit is a CandCNC product design to be a plugin for SheetCAM and offers a 3D PIPE JOINT design interface that lets you complex joints on multiple sized pipes and multiple joints by using INPUT BOXES and seeing it displayed in 3D . You can rotate the image and you can run the cuts in a 3D simulation . A Custom POST lets you cut it in CommandCNC.