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I have been doing some odds and end jobs to earn up some money for an X-Carve. I’m looking to purchase the 1000x1000 version about as soon as my funds become available (transferring between my accounts now). I have a background of working in a machine shop for a couple years during highschool and college, so I do have some decent experience working with the machining process, g-code, tool path stuff, etc, but I didn’t get into the CAD part of it so much. These days, I fly a desk for a living and do a bit of very low level CAD stuff just in Sketchup for my own speaker designs and creating cut lists, but CAD is definitely the area that I am lacking in the most.
I know Easel is free and is a good place to start, but I also know I will get tired of it very quickly as it’s a bit of a one trick pony. I’m interested in what other software options are out there that include 3D space as well as tool path simulation and preferably g-code sender/creator all in one unit. I may not be opposed to paying a small upfront charge, but this is strictly hobby level and I’m really not interested in any sort of subscription. If anyone has some suggestions, I would love to hear them!
Its missing a few things like a sender but its a very powerful tool for the cost (Free). I use Autodesk Fusion 360. It’s CAD and CAM all in one.
Download the free trial then register as a hobbyist.
I’m always nervous that those subscription based things will keep changing up on me like that Office 360 junk that keeps updating things, breaking stuff, and is just a pain in the butt. I much prefer stuff that I can just download and not have to worry about future changes.
I’ll start out on easel for sure. I can just see myself being limited with it before too long.
When I bought my machine you could get a pretty good discount on Vcarve Desktop and Vcarve Pro with the purchase of your machine. No discount without a machine purchase.
if anything give fusion a try as it being free there is no loss if it is too much to grasp at least you could get a start with it while waiting and give you a head start for when you have the machine. I know it is only my opinion but i like it very much. I also use artcam $45 month sub that way i only pay when using it. One thing to look into is some of these programs might be a one time purchase but some charge a service fee or fees to update.
Organic and flowing Shapes. I am looking for software that will allow me to organic shapes such as the ruffles on a woman’s blouse. Any ideas? Also considered making my desired shapes out of modeling clay and then used a digitizer. What software combination can I use to digitize a 3D flowing form and put it into a format I can carve??
