Can Drawing Software Be Used With CNC Routers?

Drawing software, or illustration software, such as CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator, is sometimes used as the first step in creating a design for use with CNC Routers. This can be a very practical solution for some router users, such as sign shops, and those cutting more "artistic" shapes. It is also practical for many who use CNC laser cutters and engravers which communicate to an HPGL driven machine via a Windows printer driver.

In this case, all the user has to do is use a simple CAM software to assign depths, speeds, and information about the tool being used to cut the job, then output to G-Code.

Drawing software, however, is not always practical for those with very geometrically shaped parts, as drawing software is based on Bezier curves instead of lines and arcs. No blanket rule can be set, as the needs of every customer are different.

For this reason, it is often recommended to use a CAD/CAM software package which has all or most of these capabilities in one program. A good example of such a software is EnRoute, a Scanvec/Amiable product.