Free, easy design software for your LongMill
The LongMill comes with gSender, Sienci's free sender, to run it. What it doesn't come with is a way to make the G-code. Surfacecraft is free design and CAM software in your browser: draw or import, give each shape a depth and a bit, check the 3D preview and download a file gSender can run.
For the LongMill MK3, MK2.5 and MK2. Nothing to install. Mac, Windows, Linux and Chromebook. Updated .- Work area
- MK3: 32″ × 32″ (30 × 30) or 49″ × 32″ (48 × 30)
- Firmware
- grblHAL (MK3, MK2.5), GRBL (MK2)
- Spindle
- A 65 mm router, set on its own dial, or on the MK3 an 80 mm spindle. The router isn't included with the machine.
- Preset
- LongMill MK2 30x30
- Output
- G21 G90 G94 · M3 S… · one .nc per bit
What to know about the Sienci LongMill
grblHAL on the MK3 and MK2.5
The MK3's SLB-LITE and the MK2.5's SuperLongBoard run grblHAL; the original LongBoard runs GRBL. Pick the controller that matches in Surfacecraft, and the G-code works on either.
Made for gSender
Sienci recommends gSender to run the LongMill. Download the file from Surfacecraft and open it there: the header says which bit to load and where to zero.
A router's speed is on its dial
GRBL can't set a trim router's speed, so the feeds table gives an rpm to set by hand. Surfacecraft keeps the feed under your machine's top speed.
Sienci LongMill feeds and speeds to start with
Starting points for solid carbide 2-flute end mills, worked out for the LongMill MK2 30x30 preset and kept under its 4,000 mm/min top speed. They're the numbers Cut Studio suggests when you pick the bit and material.
| Material | ⅛″ 2-flute end mill | ¼″ 2-flute end mill |
|---|---|---|
| Softwoodpine, spruce, fir | 3,672 mm/min 17,000 rpm · 1.51 mm per pass | 4,000 mm/min* 10,000 rpm · 3.02 mm per pass |
| Hardwoodsoft maple, cherry, walnut | 3,608 mm/min 22,000 rpm · 1.51 mm per pass | 3,560 mm/min 10,000 rpm · 3.02 mm per pass |
| Plywoodbaltic birch, birch plywood, cabinet plywood | 3,400 mm/min 17,000 rpm · 1.51 mm per pass | 3,800 mm/min 10,000 rpm · 3.02 mm per pass |
| MDF / particle boardmdf, hdf, particle board | 2,880 mm/min 12,000 rpm · 1.51 mm per pass | 4,000 mm/min* 10,000 rpm · 3.02 mm per pass |
| Acrylicacrylic, cast acrylic, plexiglass | 3,080 mm/min 22,000 rpm · 1.27 mm per pass | 3,672 mm/min 17,000 rpm · 2.54 mm per pass |
Chiploads come from bit makers' published ranges (Onsrud, Amana Tool, Whiteside), kept at the gentle end for hobby machines. * The machine's top speed holds the feed here, so the spindle is slowed to keep the chips thick. Set the router's dial to the nearest speed on its own chart: dial charts differ from router to router. Every machine and bit is a little different: listen for chatter on a test cut and adjust.
From box to first cut
Surfacecraft makes the G-code. A sender runs it: gSender, Sienci's free sender, or another grblHAL sender such as UGS or ioSender.
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01
Create a free account Open Cut Studio in your browser. Nothing to download.
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02
Add your machine Pick the LongMill MK2 30x30 preset. Check the top speed against your manual.
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03
Make a design Draw text and shapes or import an SVG. Give each shape a depth, a cut and a bit.
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04
Check the 3D preview It's built from the real G-code, so what you see is what the bit will do.
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05
Download and run Load the bit the file's header names, zero where it says, and run it in your sender.
Sienci LongMill test G-code
A first cut to check your machine before you design anything: a 40 × 30 mm pocket and a 40 × 30 mm outline, both 3 mm deep, with a ⅛″ 2-flute end mill in pine. Made by Cut Studio with the LongMill MK2 30x30 preset, at the softwood numbers in the table above, and it runs in about 1 minute.
Clamp a piece of pine at least 100 × 60 × 6 mm. Zero X and Y on its front-left corner and Z on its top, then run the file in your sender.
A cutting board with a juice groove
Draw a rounded rectangle, pocket a 6 mm groove just inside the edge, then cut the board out with holding tabs. The LongMill's bed takes a full-size board in one go.
Sienci LongMill software questions
Two kinds. CAM software turns a design into G-code, and a sender runs it on the machine. Sienci's gSender is the sender. Surfacecraft is free CAM software in your browser that writes the G-code.
Yes. Set the controller to grblHAL for an MK3 or MK2.5 (GRBL for the original LongBoard). grblHAL runs the same G-code as GRBL.
There's one for the LongMill MK2 30 × 30. On an MK3 or another size, start from it and change the work area to your machine's cutting area.
Yes. Designing, toolpaths, the 3D preview and G-code export are on the Free plan with no time limit. Pro adds sending jobs straight to the machine, more machines, AI tools and commercial use.
Free software for other machines
Your Sienci LongMill is ready. Now it has software.
Design and G-code are free, with no time limit. Send to your machine over USB with Pro.