cncArtistMachines / OpenBuilds LEAD
OpenBuilds LEAD
cncArtist for OpenBuilds LEAD: CAM for Mac, iPad and iPhone
Native Mac software for designing, simulating and cutting on OpenBuilds LEAD. Free to download. $299 once to cut without limits. No subscription.
Why cncArtist suits OpenBuilds LEAD
OpenBuilds LEAD machines run GRBL through the BlackBox. cncArtist has presets for the LEAD 1010 and 1515 and writes plain GRBL .nc files.
It is useful for builders who want to tune the machine and still have trustworthy software on the Mac.
What it writes, and how to send it
GRBL post
File extension .nc. This post has no in-program tool change, so a job that uses more than one bit is exported as one file per bit (for example a -1-T2 and a -2-T1 file). Run them in order and re-zero Z after each swap.
How to send it
OpenBuilds CONTROL, the sender for the BlackBox controller. Load the .nc file there, set zero and run.
Your DIY build may differ from the preset. Check bed size and travel. cncArtist's posts are checked with golden-file tests: the output for a sample job is compared with a saved copy, so a change cannot slip through unnoticed. That is a software test, not a certification on any machine. Run the simulator and an air cut on a new setup before every first cut.
Presets for OpenBuilds LEAD
Pick your machine by maker and model and cncArtist fills in the bed size, Z travel, safe height and post. These are the makers' published cutting areas, and you can change any figure.
| Preset | Bed | Z travel | Post |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenBuilds LEAD 1010 | 730 × 810 mm 28.7 × 31.9 in | 90 mm | GRBL |
| OpenBuilds LEAD 1515 | 1220 × 1220 mm 48 × 48 in | 90 mm | GRBL |
Features that matter on OpenBuilds LEAD
Every line checked first
The simulator plays the whole job back in wood, marks gouges on the board and lists each problem with its toolpath or G-code line, before anything reaches the machine.
Edit the post if you need to
Copy a built-in post and change its header, footer, tool change and number format. Plain-language checks block unsafe lines, and a live preview shows the result.
Nesting with tabs
Pack parts onto the sheet to waste less wood, with tabs that hold each one in place.
Times that learn
Record how long a job really took and cncArtist adjusts its run-time estimates for your machine, so they get closer every job.
From design to first cut
- Pick OpenBuilds LEAD 1010 or 1515 in Machine.
- Design and toolpath.
- Simulate.
- Export and open the .nc file in CONTROL.
- Set zero, air cut, then cut.
Questions
Which extension?
.nc
Multiple bits?
This post has no in-program tool change, so a job that uses more than one bit is exported as one file per bit (for example a -1-T2 and a -2-T1 file). Run them in order and re-zero Z after each swap.
Can I edit the post?
Yes.
Coming from Vectric? Read VCarve for Mac.
Free to download.
$299 once to cut without limits.
Design and simulate as much as you like. Your first three jobs export free. Then one purchase unlocks cncArtist on Mac, iPad and iPhone. Commercial use included.
Cut 3 jobs free.
Every design tool, every simulation, and G-code for your first three jobs. No card, no time limit.
Once. Everywhere.
Unlimited export on Mac, iPad and iPhone with one purchase. Free 1.x updates. Family Sharing. Commercial use included.
Launch price $249 until 11:59 pm on Thursday, Dec 31, 2026.
No subscription.
Pay once, cut forever. A paid major version every few years, with an owner upgrade price.