What software are you running for your designs

[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...