Here is what I am working with to get an entirely Web based solution working that runs on a raspberry pi and can be accessed from a chromebook or smart phone.
I wanted to have a reliable setup for my X-Carve so that I would not have to worry about things like windows updates, power saver nap… or other complexities killing a project.
I also wanted to be able to use low cost hardware in my shop that if damaged would be easy, cheap, and quick to replace.
Here are the solutions I am playing with right now.
I have a Raspberry Pi 3, it is worlds faster than the Raspberry Pi 2 that I have used, get the Pi 3.
Design:
- tinkercad.com (simple and easy, good staring place for 3D design)
- onshape.com (for more complex 3D design)
- easel.inventables.com (best web based 2D+ design tool, love it!)
Slice:
Control:
- CNC.js (Raspberry Pi setup guide here)
- Adafruit X-Carve Server & Proxy (used with Easel)
- chilipeppr.com/grbl
- serial-port-json-server (used by chilipeppr and others)
I currently have CNC.js & serial-port-json-server installed on my Raspberry Pi 3.
Gives me the flexability to use chilipeppr.com/grbl or CNC.js with the raspberry pi controlling everything.
CNC.js is more reliable by design because everything is cached to the PI, where as chilipeppr.com/grbl streams to serial-port-json-server.