Beginners guide to designing in Easel - 3018 PRO 

This is very helpful. Thanks for a no-nonsense, clear, and concise video.

Waiting for my 3018 pro to arrive - I am learning so much from your tutorials. Thank you.

I found this really instructive James. Many thanks for sharing your talent with the rest of the world .

Another fantastic video! I was glad to see that you did two cuts in this tutorial, I was wondering how this was done.

Excellent tutorial, you saved me so much trouble and time. Good job JD

This is the best 3018 tutorial I have seen for using Easel. I was able to design my first sign to cut using this lesson. Thank You! Please keep these tutorials coming.

Answered alot of my questions concerning G codes and how to import them. Great video as i have ordered the Fox Alien 4040 XE and am brand new to the CNC world. Actually haven't received the machine yet, but looking forward to getting started. Also ordered the 20 watt laser with rotary attachment.

I'm thinking of buying a 3018 mini cnc. I found a supplier "just around the corner" but they don't have them in stock now. This tutorial is fantastic. A lot of thumbs up for you. Thanks a lot for putting so much effort into it. I'm going to subscribe right now.

Thanks for sharing!!! This is the best tutorial I have seen!

Thanks for this video. This explained some of the issues I was having. Thanks

Baxter's Bed signage looks Awesome, I like it a lot!🐶 Great design work.

Another great video James. Thank you 😊

WOW, you really should write a book, its taken me 3 weeks to find how to use Easel like this. Thanks fr all your work!

Thanks for the excellent video James. Looking forward to the next installment.

Another very useful video. Definitely saving this one for the future.

Excellent! Free community college class!!! Thank you so much!

Thanks James, I’ve just purchased a 3018 and in the process of teaching myself to use it using RU-vid tutorials. Your collection of videos are the best and clearest I’ve found so far. I will definitely be following your channel as I move forward 👍

A way to use extra typefaces without the pro version is to draw in Inkscape and import SVG file. Excellent tutorial to get going in Easel. Thanks.

Wow. Really informative video. Thank you for all the help.

Thank you bought a S3018 pro from Vevor months ago to assist with my model plane build and hit a wall with lack of knowledge after watching your video I'm keen to try again

Dude!! Easel for the win. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I had carve co for the past two months and haven’t successfully made a good useable design. I was getting so frustrated. I’m definitely switching to this it looks so much more user friendly. Thanks for that one. Your the best at calmly showing us how it’s done.

hi james just bought 3018 pro . you are saving me a college course what a star

You're a legend dude. I just keep having issues with my 3018 but ill get there one day lol

This was one of the easiest to follow I have seen so far

Thanks again James. Just did a refresher!

Great video. It helped me a lot starting out with my 3018 pro

Just found you. This was incredibly helpful. Thank you!

What's also done for the color/contrast of the finished product, is to paint the engraved parts after the engraving but without taking too much care about the exterior, and once dry, to sand the paint that shouldn't be there.

Hi James, Just wanted to say "What a Brilliant tutorial" for beginners on the Easel software. I've watched plenty of other videos but none of them come even close to the amount of detail and explanations you provide. No words can describe how grateful I am for now finally understanding the Easel software. Thank You so much for putting this video together - You Rock!🎸

Thank you. I will have to watch this several times to really get it, but it really helped. At 80 My speed is 12.

Very easy to follow tutorial. Thanks 😊

Great, thank you James.

Great instructions. Thank you.

Learnt so much in a short time thanks

Brilliant tutorial vid... Thanks... Frank...

Great tutorial!

James, you just saved my marriage. OK, not really, but after a week of the 3018 and laptop sitting on the kitchen counter, I can move everything to the garage because you showed me how to use it. Great video! Thank you!

Excellent!! Thank you!!

Thank you I learned so much

thankkkkkkkkkkkkk you :). brings me a smile

I'm so glad I found your videos. Im a wood worker and wanted to get into cnc for some design work. I purchased a gemitsu 4040 thinking how hard could it be to figure out the cad/cam software. Was I wrong. I literally was about to give up trying to figure out freecad. But your easel videos made it so much easier for me to pick up. Thank you so much for getting me back on track.

this was very good

Excellent !

To ensure a perfect origin Shouldn’t the user use the smaller bit first, make a small plunge into the material showing the origin, then when changing bits you can check orientation? Great videos, I am planning on getting a cnc machine and these tutorials are fantastic, thanks

If not for these lessons on you tube my this gentleman there would most likely be a 3018 in the dumpster right now. Thank you very much.

Awesome dude..

Hi James, love your work and I am an avid viewer from here in Australia. Perhaps one thing you might mention in your tutorial (although I may have missed it) is that the non-pro version of easel only permits 10 projects whereas the pro version is basically unlimited with heaps more features.

Great video!

great tutorial thank you

Thank you sir!

Excellent

Thank you for sharing

awesome , thanks

Thank you!

Great video, just wish I could use ugs.

messaged on the off chance that you could help after 8 hours of smashing my head against the wall trying to set up my newly purchased 3018prover cnc. you immediately rose to the challenge and talked me through a complete reset of my cnc settings even as far as videos for me. without you I am sure this machine would of ended up in the bin. all I can say is thank you but that is not enough. you really are knowledgeable and happy to help. again I can't do anything other than thank you but trust me I feel more than thanks!

Another great tutorial - thank you. With the latest version of Easel, some things have changed but this video is a great place to start. Is there any way to add / use engraving bits (like the ones that came with the machine) in the free version? I like the program, but it seems like the free version is massively restrictive.

How do you get the spindle to turn on in UGS? I have a FoxAlien 4040xe . You explain that so well. Thanks

Hi folks I went to setup easel to work with my Sainsmart 3018 pro. It appears in the current version the process is different it immediately wants to install a driver. This wouldn't be a problem but I was planning to use easel on my Mac laptop which is not the machine I planned to use with the CNC. I can not find a work around to set the dimensions of the work area. I'm not sure I'll be sticking with Easel but as I had the 30 day free trial it seemed like a good place to start. I had some experience with autocad so assume I can pick up Fusion 360 fairly easily but it has been some while.

Fantastic video and detail, thank you. Do you ever use the offline controller vs the PC and if so can you do a quick tutorial on how to use it and run jobs from it.

James thank you for producing your videos, they are very informative. Regarding the Drill point tool, why is it that the hole diameter cannot be changed? I have used them to set center to center measurements with the circle tool. I use the Line tool for measuring. When I import a svg from Easel having a line into Carbide Create, CC indicates the the svg has open vectors. What am I missing? Thanks

Your videos are really helping me get started. Thank you so much. Now I'm looking to buy a CNC 3018, do you know if there is any software that will run on a mac?

I got my machine about 2 weeks ago and have been trying to use Fusion 360 with it. After a week of that I was really starting to feel defeated because I didn't succeed with a single test carve. Here I am, now, with your vid and at the end of a single evening I actually produced and carved something. Finally, some satisfaction. Now I know that I should just follow your tutorials, wherever they may lead. I'll get back to Fusion 360 some other day. Thank you :-)

Thanks!

Thanks great lesson! I haven't used my router for about 2 yrs because it drives my dogs crazy. Unfortunately Easel won't allow me to download Gcode w/o subscription. Fusion 360 doesn't work on my computer. Anyone have other suggestions for Gcode generator that's free or at least reasonably priced?

Hi James, brilliant videos. I see you have a 2000 spindle and you set your spindle speed to 1800 rpm. On my 3018 my spindle parameters are listed as 775 spindle motor (12-24v) : 7000r/min, 9000r/min. Im wondering if you'd advise me what to set my spindle speed at please as that info appears to me to quote 2 different speeds!! Oh i think ive worked out the speed thing ..7000 for 12v and 9000 for 24v !! But should i drop that 9000 r/min down a bit? My drill bits info says Diameter 3.175, tip 0.1mm, length 30mm. So it looks to me like i could never use a 1/4" bit for example, or would that be possible? I presume i cud however use a 1/16" bit. Im gonna try to do the baxters bed carve after I hear from you 😀

Hi James, I hope you could help me. I followed the settings on this video but each time the machine tries to carve a design it's 3 times wide. For example I put a cup which is 20 mm wide but it comes out it's 60mm. The carving is streched out. I have no clue why. I'm using cnc 3018 pro as well with easel and your manual settings

Now that you've got a 3D printer and a bigger CNC are you at all tempted to use them together to build an even bigger CNC?

James, thanks for this! I have a 4040 Genmitsu that I am really wanting to use for my small woodcraft start-up. I haven't used a PC in over a decade so I need to ask; is UGS Mac compatible? What is your biggest reason for not wanting Easel to control your machine? Just want to make sure I'm not going to detonate my investment and I trust your knowledge in this. Many thanks from a meteor bowl in Kentucky, USA.

Any chance you could show us how to engrave and cut out cast acrylic? I find they are great for decor but having trouble with finding the right settings

I’ve never used a cnc so very much just starting

How do you account for a round piece of material your working with. I’m working with an epoxy wood 12 inch round piece of material

Like your tutorial do you do one on one training for this software?

second can this select material etc, aluminium and change this automatic feed and speed right ewery materials, if test cutting MDF and then if code working good or need change something then can i only change material then feed and speed have different etc, test cut MDF and then cut aluminium have all right bit, speed,feed, etch, or need make all porject new different material. (lot work)

Hi there. I mostly use my cnc for electronics plates. So I use laser mostly, a bit of drilling and engraving for panels. I use GRBLGru or GRBL-Plotter to generate G-code. It's free software and I realy dont see difference in functionality. Using Easel for monthly rent and free GRBL softwares. In 2D and 2.5D - machining what is the difference? May be Easel have awerome features? Or it can generate code for real 3d milling? Use some textures features for flat areas, or for Surfaces?

James, I have a 3018 pro but have upgraded the work area to x 300, y360 but when choosing machine in easel it shows the 3018 and thus work area is set at 180x300, the machine drop down does to offer an opportunity to change to the new dimensions, btw the easel software is newer than your version in the video's. HELP!

does easel has same feature as aspire vectric has? Like 2.5D Text cad cam?

In regards to speeds and feeds, have you had a chance to look at the Machinery's Handbooks, AKA Machinist's Bible.

When using easil when setting up for the machine what are the settings to use

Hi James, Love your videos. Very clear and easy to follow. I have a question regarding upgrade of the spindle motor. Which one should I choose and will it interface straight off with my current 3018 controller?

Hi James, yet another great video, You mention the blue tape/ superglue method of securing the material to the bed, would double sided tape do the same job?

Sir, do you ever have trouble with the router moving while doing the bit change to the detail bit? When loosening the collet my router is moving and I thought it would be locked in place. Thanks

On my computer screen, I do not have the + sign at the bottom left so I can change bits in the same design . What do you recommend?

Can i ask what is the biggest bit you can use on this machine? The v shape bit i mean

James- love your channel. What’s the difference between the 3018 pro and the 3018 PROver…..trying to decide! Thanks the all the great vids and keep up the great work.

Hi James fantastic video was using to do my first project however theres a problem the latest version of easel is different from the one you showed, you can now select other machines in my case Sainsmart 3018 Prover, so some things you said dont match up anymore such as exporting the g code code in machine avance its no longer there so cant get the detail cut and the roughing cut separently, so im stuck, any chance you could do an update with the later easel, im on the easel trial version as i cant see how can only get the free version.Thanks

Great video. At the beginning and end of your video, you are standing in front of your machines and there is a light fixture secured to the ceiling. Can you tell what brand or name of that fixture? And also the control attached to it. Thanks

Hi James. I have followed your video for beginners step by step (excuse the pun). I design in Easel, try to carve in Easel or UGS and even though the simulate and UGS screen show the tool path as correct, the machine carves something entirely different and random! I took a video but can't see how to attach it here. I'm thinking the GCode generated by Easel is flawed as I have tried four different carves now, simple letters and words but all do the same thing. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I've had this 3018 machine for months now and still can't make it work. If only there was a simple reliable way to generate a GCode file and use UGS to carve it, my life would be complete! :) Peter C.

Hi James Can I transfer the g code to SD card to to run on offline controller

Is that G code platform available for Mac ? if not, is there any other software for us mac users ? Thanks for a great video :D

Please help me. I need to engrave on polished stainless metal zippo, can he do that?

I just received my 3018 pro cnc and now I had watched your video. Super well explained and everything actually worked out at once thanks to you. Awesome ! After the test cut in Ugs (universal gcode sender) was successful, I watched the tutorial about Easel. Now I want to do the following with the machine setup, in the video you tell that the spindle starts automatically if you select it on automatic. But there has been an update in the meantime and it looks a bit different now. I can only choose from Manual or Hardware in the machine setup. Also, I couldn't click generate gcode there. I chose hardware. And then I clicked on Download G-code under the projects button. In the end I opened my file in Ugs and it does show me the toolpath, but when I click on start my spindle won't start and it presses into my workpiece. Do you have an idea what I'm doing wrong? Thanks in advance. Kind regards, Dennis Aretz from the Nederlands

Hello Sir, The Easel Software is Compatible or can use to any brand of Cnc laser machine?

Hi James Which Gcode platform are you using please Regards Mike

how can we engarve round objects if the preset is always square?

This is probably a pretty elementary question, but when you were going through the tutorial how were you deleting what you had on the design screen. You did it fast and I could not figure out what you were doing. Also how do you download G Code to a USB drive?

easel is generating weird g-code on candle i can see it says the z axis goes from -10 to 400 mm, when i press send to start the job the machine hits z limit switch for obvious reasons and stop. Im new to CNC i dont know what to do

Hi James Love your beginners guides video's been watching for a while I've just purchased my sainsmart 3020 V2 , machine all setup and connected easel and ugs loaded test files on stick done 😃 So heres the issue watching Baxter's bed I've created my design something a bit simpler though first go 🥴 Followed all the steps but it will not let me generate g code keeps saying I need to upgrade to pro as my 30 days have expired 🤔 Tried everything to export to ugs but nothing I've had easel for a while playing with it before getting my machine Does the free to use aspects of easel allow you to generate and export g code to ugs and if so is there a different version of easel I'm not seeing or something I can do to rectify this Thanks for any suggestions Paul Johnson

i do not how the corolation to the software to the machine is, front and back and what is tilieng?>

The previous question was refering to if you where using easil to run the cnc router