What software are you running for your designs

[reefy86]

Is fusion 360 the most used on here or is there better? This is based on importing 3d model to desired software and toolpaths created and then off to the cnc machine. I ask because I'm watching tutorials for different software.

Thanks

[Muzzer]

What machine are you talking about - lathe, mill, router, plasma?? And what sort of part are you making - 2, 3 or 4 axis? The "best" s/w will depend on what you are planning to do with it.

[dazp1976]

Fusion is highly used.
Solidworks is probarbly similarly highly used but needs a 3rd party cam such as Mastercam or HSMworks.

I use inventorHSM.
Haven't imported other file formats to it but says it supports many.

[BeagleBrainz]

Librecad for 2D drawings & CamBam for gcode

[routerdriver]

Fusion achieved a strong presence by the expedient of giving away a level of capability that had previously cost a lot of money.It hooked a lot of users and weakened the business of the other developers and sellers of similar products.Which hindered the development of alternatives and led to the position where Autodesk could limit the functionality of the hobby version and begin to charge a modest amount for access to the extended capabilities of Fusion.Is it the best?No idea,because I don't use it but there are lots of professional users making parts with other software and even paying healthy annual charges to do so.Which might be an indication that the others do a solid job.If your anticipated use extends no further than cutting 2d shapes with the occasional hole or pocket,there are a few utterly free ways to do so.I use Freecad on my hobby machine because it means I don't have to export a file in a different format and any adjustments can be re-calculated almost instantly.It isn't the most intuitive but does have a range of post processors.It seems to be progressing faster since a proportion of disgruntled former Fusion freeloaders have moved across.

[JAZZCNC]

Like Muzzer says a lot depends on the type of materials and machine you are using because some software has tool-paths that are more suited, like Vectric software mostly caters to wood and plastic users so as dedicated tool-paths like V-carving, Inlay's, etc. Fusion can do this or be made to do this but it's not as simple or optimized as Vectric software.

Likewise, Fusion and Solid works are really better suited to milling rather than routing so they offer tool-paths that are better suited to this task with more options than say Vectric software would provide. It's horses for courses really.

Personally don't like Fusion and prefer SW, my son Jared, who works with me now loves Fusion and he does nearly all our cutting now, so I design them in SW send him the model which he Cams up in Fusion. Whatever gets the job done works.! Plus Fusion is way cheaper than SolidCam so I don't mind.:loyal:

Like most things with CNC what works best isn't always straightforward and often several ways to get the same job done. One man's method is another man's nightmare, we each have restrictions or budgets that come into play so what works for some doesn't for others.
Hobby users have different needs or restrictions to business users, time is a big factor for business users which often isn't for hobby users. Then you have to ask your self are you starting as a hobby user with the intentions of turning into a business.?

If so then you may want to look at digging deeper and buying more capable software because when I mention time being important to business users I'm not just meaning the cutting time.? You have to factor in the time to actually Cam the parts, the programming of parts can take hours, and here again, the machine type plays a part.?

For instance, a milling machine has a relatively small table size compared to say an 8 x 4 router, so you'll program a low number of parts to fill the table which will obviously take less time than it would an 8x4 table. So software which as features like nesting can save hours of time for users with large machines.

But in general, if you are going to turn a hobby into a business think about the time savings the software can offer in Both camming up and cycle times, also think about the learning curve associated with each software.?
For instance, I'm a Wiz with SW and can produce parts and models in a very short amount of time and because Fusion is very much like SW you'd expect I could do the same with it but I've spent weeks trying to bond with it and just can't or don't get on with it, why.? I don't know! ... We just don't fit.!
So you need to factor this into the mix if you are going to chop n change, no point starting with hobby-level software if you are going to be a business because the learning curve could be massive.
This is why Vectric software is a good choice for hobby wood users looking to expand or upgrade because they learn the same controls and methods as the higher-end software so the learning curve is small, it's only the cost that stings!

[reefy86]

Hobby to start with just until I'm comfortable and learned all the basics then into a business. I am the same with solidworks Dean, I've tried other cad software but I just learn easier and feel comfortable with solidworks. I'm just looking for that software where you know it feels comfortable to use. I do all my 3d designs in 3ds max they also do autodesk powermill but guessing that's not for routing. I was watching some videos last night and it took the guy over an hr to get it ready for routing yet the model took 5 mins to design. Now I understand why some companies charge through the roof when asking for custom designs to be made because of all the crap they have to do before hand.

So what is the higher end software to vertical?

[dazp1976]

When it comes to CAM. I thought I was just rediculously slow at programing it.
I guess not!.

[JAZZCNC]

So what is the higher end software to vertical?

Not sure what you mean with Vertical.? If you meant Vectric then their top-level software is Aspire V11

https://www.vectric.com/products/aspire

[cropwell]

My software budget is close to zero, so I have been trying out various free packages.

First of all I have to state that my current interest is 3D printing:-

SketchUp - Okay for banging out a quick design, but very rectilinear and hard edged. Nothing is organic or flowing. When they went cloud based, I went elsewhere.

conFusion360 - I don't like as it is cloud based and need internet access. As your designs are in the cloud, you could have the plug pulled on you and lose all your work. Also, this afternoon, I have been trying to export some designs to pick them up in my current software and ended up just redrawing in Solid Edge. (see below).

FreeCad - I can't remember why I dropped this, apart from the fact it was buggy and feature poor.

Solid Edge - my current software - hard to learn for an old sod like me, It is one of those programs that uses the mouse a lot and what it does changes depending on where you are and what you are doing. I am getting into it though.

I use Simplify3D as a slicer, and I like it better than MakerBot (which also went cloud-based, I think).

For CNC router work I have used LibreCAD, and EstilCam to generate Gcode, but as my machine has been waiting 2 years due to an office revamp, that may be subject to review when I switch on again.

30538

[Neale]

I started with various bits of free software but had so much grief that I sprang for Vectric VCarve. Really good for woodwork, routers, and similar. Fairly easy to use - they have avoided a lot of the complications that more "sophisticated" software has but they still include almost everything you need in their target market. The CAM side is particularly straightforward. There is a minimum level of complication that you can't really avoid but they have made it as easy as possible.

Then I dabbled with Onshape (commercial software but free for hobby users). At about the same time they started to limit the "free" features I discovered Fusion 360. Very powerful (at least next to something like VCarve) and much more suited to milling. One great thing is that the CAM module is included, and again is pretty powerful. However, as mentioned above, recently they introduced restrictions in the hobby version (some say to make money but I wonder if it's more because they found too many commercial users claiming to be "hobbyists"?) which make it less useful for some. No 4th axis (doesn't worry me at the moment); there are also some restrictions around tool-changing and rapid feeds, both of which are largely overcome by a clever little add-in bit of code written by Tim Paterson. Works for me, although I wouldn't want to build a business around it. But then, if I were running a business, I would pay up for the full version.

I'm now working with Solid Edge (note Edge not Works - different products). Even more powerful and intricate than F360 (as per Cropwell's remarks above). However, there is no CAM in the free version. But I have a friend who regularly designs in SE and then exports via .STEP files to F360 to use its CAM.

I have looked at FreeCAD and while I know that it has many supporters, I find the whole fragmented interface, variable documentation, etc, too off-putting when there are products like F360 and SE with plenty of online support and tutorials around. But you pays your money and you takes your choice. But less choice if you don't want to pay...

[cropwell]

Aspire seems to be the go to software for CNC routing, so out of curiosity (I could never afford it!) I looked up the price. From Vectric it costs £1500 for v11.

There were however search results from a site called Wish and AliExpress offering v9.5 for around £30 and v10.5 for just over £50. There was no support option though. Mmmmm, I wonder why!

[BeagleBrainz]

FreeCAD is great for 3D print models. I use it all the time.

[routerdriver]

I would add that Freecad has improved a lot in the last 18 months or so and any assessment of the previous versions may be outdated.Version 0.19 or the Linux appimage are a good bit more advanced.I do with they hadn't hidden the control of the 3D toolpath option quite so deeply though as it moves things into a new dimension in every sense.It still isn't intuitive enough and you really need to watch the most recent youtube tutorials to understand the possibilities as the development keeps progressing faster than the manuals.

[Kitwn]

Librecad for 2D drawings & CamBam for gcode

I'm intrigued why not just CamBam for the whole process, I find it a great package for what I call 'engineering' projects such as clock gears etc. It's not expensive, has a pay-once-upgrades-for-life license and a wide range of well supported add-ons available from the user group which greatly increases it's capability.

Vectric Vcarve (desktop or pro version) is better suited to 'artistic' projects like signs with carved animals or plants all over them but it is relatively expensive. Vectric Aspire, which includes all the cunning 3D modeling tools you need to make your own completely original designs is much more expensive. I suspect many of us don't have the artistic carving skills needed to make best use of it, but those who do might be able to sell their designs (which can be imported into Vcarve) to recover the cost.

[BeagleBrainz]

Just the way I'm comfortable doing things.

To tell the truth I've only used CamBam's cam functions.

[reefy86]

Thanks guys alot of info in here, I don't really do sculptures but if I do it's through a 3d modeling program which I use autodesk 3ds max and then into Zbrush for finer details. Most of my work is through 3ds max just because I've used it almost on a daily basis since 2002. So the majority of my work would have to be converted to stl and then through a cam software. I'll have to start doing some trials on some. And BTW you think aspire is expensive I remember paying 3.5k for 3ds max when I did my freelance work.

[Mattia]

I’m using Fusion 360 because I’m doing this as a hobby and the price can’t be beat, and there is a broad user base. My focus is guitars and associated tools/jigs, for which the parametric modeling is working quite well for me - design it right and just tweak a few numbers in the parameter table for a customized model.


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[Ollie78]

I use Fusion 360 for furniture design type stuff, they have nerfed it a bit for the hobby licence, I am in a constant state of almost buying a licence for a year but can`t bring myself to do it because I dislike its subscription method and I worry they will remove functions and then make you buy them as plugins etc.

I use Vcarve for artistic stuff, engravings and inlays etc, I like the very simple (compared to fusion ) cam setup. It is worth its money after a few projects and the learning curve is pretty quick once you make a few things, you own it once you bought it but can upgrade versions as they improve it very cheaply if you want to, but you don`t have to.
Great for just quickly cutting templates or simple shapes as well.

Tried freecad but just couldn`t get into it, not sure why exactly, not intuitive to me for some reason.

A couple not mentioned are Alibre atom which I tried the demo of and quite liked, I would have liked it more if I wasn`t used to fusion I think.
Its pretty cheap and they do another version called Alibre workshop which comes with Meshcam, a bargain at £390 for a perpetual licence ( same as 1 year of fusion 360 ).

Also Carveco is one I looked at which is basically ArtCam rebranded they do 3 levels of capability I was looking at the maker plus which is the middle one, you can go monthly $50, annual at $600, or perpetual licence at $1200 which is not bad overall. The full fat version of carveco is $8000.

I don`t really dare look at solidworks and stuff like that as there is no way I can afford it and I might like it !

If you are going to do any 3d modelling I would seriously suggest buying a 3d connexions spacemouse, bloody brilliant thing, worth every penny, however it doesn`t work in vectric which is incredibly annoying once you are used to using it in fusion and you switch programmes.

Ollie

[reefy86]

what do people put as their machine in fusion 360 if its a diy made one? getting the hang of it and its nice to play with the simulation to get a feel of it rather then testing on the machine which i don't have yet. ill probably be importing a lot of stuff as a stl file because i make my designs else where but so far fusion 360 seems to be easy enough to use

[Ollie78]

what do people put as their machine in fusion 360 if its a diy made one? getting the hang of it and its nice to play with the simulation to get a feel of it rather then testing on the machine which i don't have yet. ill probably be importing a lot of stuff as a stl file because i make my designs else where but so far fusion 360 seems to be easy enough to use

You should be able to find the correct post processor here.

https://cam.autodesk.com/hsmposts

Search for your machine or control software and download the correct one.

For example I use the CNC Drive post because I have UCCNC on a diy style machine.

Ollie

[reefy86]

You should be able to find the correct post processor here.

https://cam.autodesk.com/hsmposts

Search for your machine or control software and download the correct one.

For example I use the CNC Drive post because I have UCCNC on a diy style machine.

Ollie

Thank you :)

[Neale]

what do people put as their machine in fusion 360 if its a diy made one? getting the hang of it and its nice to play with the simulation to get a feel of it rather then testing on the machine which i don't have yet. ill probably be importing a lot of stuff as a stl file because i make my designs else where but so far fusion 360 seems to be easy enough to use

You can define your own machine anyway. Not that it seems to make a whole lot of difference in most cases. I used to just ignore this setting and did my toolpath generation with no machine specified.

You can also specify the default post-processor, and also the most valuable thing that I have found - the default Z "Home" position. I don't think that that matters too much with Mach3 as you can define the tool-change position as part of the G28-related parameters, but UCCNC does not handle G28 the same way and you need this to be set up. In fact, I think that this was the driver for me actually setting up a machine definition in the first place as I changed motion controllers in my mill and went from Mach3 to UCCNC. Had a lot of problems with tool-change height and similar until I discovered this.

[hoopy]

Got from etsy in ireland £22.74 worked fine aspire pro10
have it on zip file

KEVIN

[dazp1976]

Got from etsy in ireland £22.74 worked fine aspire pro10
have it on zip file

KEVIN

Likely a non legit cracked version that they got for free. :whistle:

[terry1956]

Hi, I use solidworks for design which now comes with the ability to make tool paths. Also vcurve if it’s a simple part to machine. And the odd bit of fusion360 for gcode.