What software are you running for your designs

[dazp1976]

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

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.