5 ms·

I'd suggest Fusion360 for this. Solvespace or FreeCAD if you must use OSS software. It depends a lot how complex the stuff you plan to build is. Fusion360 is f

I'd suggest Fusion360 for this. Solvespace or FreeCAD if you must use OSS software. It depends a lot how complex the stuff you plan to build is. Fusion360 is free for personal use so you can wait until you actually earn money with whatever you create until you buy a license.

coronadisaster 6y ago
too bad it is Windows and Mac only
justinclift 6y ago
> Fusion360 is free for personal use ... They've recently announced upcoming changes to that. Much of the Manufacturing (aka CAM) features are being put behind a paywall (US$60/month?), including some of the low-to-intermediate level ones like 4th axis CAM. :(
- Youden 6y ago
  That's sad, do you have a link to more details?
  - justinclift 6y ago
    I think this is the correct link: https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=Fusion_Extensions_extensions_manufacturing_html https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=Fusion_Ex... The change was mentioned to me by one of our local Makerspace members a few days ago, who was considering learning CNC and asking about machines. There's further discussion of the specifics (eg 4th axis) in the Fusion 360 forum somewhere. Found it a few days ago, but am not seeing it now. :(
    - Youden 6y ago
      Hmm, unlike "5 axis", it doesn't say that "4 axis" is part of the extension, it specifically says "Rotary", which seems to be this: https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=MFG-MULTI-AXIS-ROTARY https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=MFG-MULTI... On the "4th axis wrap toolpath" page, it doesn't have the same "this is part of an extension" warning: https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-7FF25192-AED7-4230-92DC-E22ADF15D498 https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-7FF2... So I think (hope) that some forms of 4-axis machining are still free.
      - justinclift 6y ago
        There's a forum post about it, where the Autodesk people say the 4th axis stuff is moved to the new extension. :(
- foldr 6y ago
  But if you're actually machining stuff you're going to pay way more than 60/month in associated costs anyway?
  - auxym 6y ago
    I have to agree with that. A decent CNC is a few 10k$, plus ongoing cost like tooling. At that point 60/month is pretty minimal.
  - justinclift 6y ago
    Hell no. My local Makerspace has various low end CNC machines ranging from an old 800x800mm XCarve (3 axis only), that's useful for teaching people and using cut-offs from the wood workers. We have a donated 4-axis machine as well, we've been getting up and running. Replaced the proprietary controller board with an Open Source one, and mostly just need to calibrate it and figure out an effective post processor.
    - foldr 6y ago
      If someone is letting you use their CNC machine for free, then sure. But whoever is paying the costs associated with maintaining that machine and buying materials is going to be paying more than 60/month.
      - justinclift 6y ago
        Again no. I'm the person maintaining those machines. The maintenance cost is practically zero. Occasionally (every few months) we may need to buy a set of 1/8" bits (for $10). Entry level CNC machines can be assembled pretty cheaply. eg PrintNC: https://github.com/threedesigns/printNC https://github.com/threedesigns/printNC For materials, we have several wood workers in the Makerspace and can either use their off cuts, or buy a sheet of MDF ($10) that lasts a few weeks.
        foldr 6y ago
        Doesn't it cost about $1000 to build a printNC? And if you are just cutting sheets of wood or plastic, you don't really need a proper CAD package.
amelius 6y ago
Apparently, many users report that Fusion360 crashes often on Mac.

coronadisaster 6y ago

too bad it is Windows and Mac only

justinclift 6y ago

> Fusion360 is free for personal use ... They've recently announced upcoming changes to that. Much of the Manufacturing (aka CAM) features are being put behind a paywall (US$60/month?), including some of the low-to-intermediate level ones like 4th axis CAM. :(

Youden 6y ago
That's sad, do you have a link to more details?
- justinclift 6y ago
  I think this is the correct link: https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=Fusion_Extensions_extensions_manufacturing_html https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=Fusion_Ex... The change was mentioned to me by one of our local Makerspace members a few days ago, who was considering learning CNC and asking about machines. There's further discussion of the specifics (eg 4th axis) in the Fusion 360 forum somewhere. Found it a few days ago, but am not seeing it now. :(
  - Youden 6y ago
    Hmm, unlike "5 axis", it doesn't say that "4 axis" is part of the extension, it specifically says "Rotary", which seems to be this: https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=MFG-MULTI-AXIS-ROTARY https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=MFG-MULTI... On the "4th axis wrap toolpath" page, it doesn't have the same "this is part of an extension" warning: https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-7FF25192-AED7-4230-92DC-E22ADF15D498 https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-7FF2... So I think (hope) that some forms of 4-axis machining are still free.
    - justinclift 6y ago
      There's a forum post about it, where the Autodesk people say the 4th axis stuff is moved to the new extension. :(
foldr 6y ago
But if you're actually machining stuff you're going to pay way more than 60/month in associated costs anyway?
- auxym 6y ago
  I have to agree with that. A decent CNC is a few 10k$, plus ongoing cost like tooling. At that point 60/month is pretty minimal.
- justinclift 6y ago
  Hell no. My local Makerspace has various low end CNC machines ranging from an old 800x800mm XCarve (3 axis only), that's useful for teaching people and using cut-offs from the wood workers. We have a donated 4-axis machine as well, we've been getting up and running. Replaced the proprietary controller board with an Open Source one, and mostly just need to calibrate it and figure out an effective post processor.
  - foldr 6y ago
    If someone is letting you use their CNC machine for free, then sure. But whoever is paying the costs associated with maintaining that machine and buying materials is going to be paying more than 60/month.
    - justinclift 6y ago
      Again no. I'm the person maintaining those machines. The maintenance cost is practically zero. Occasionally (every few months) we may need to buy a set of 1/8" bits (for $10). Entry level CNC machines can be assembled pretty cheaply. eg PrintNC: https://github.com/threedesigns/printNC https://github.com/threedesigns/printNC For materials, we have several wood workers in the Makerspace and can either use their off cuts, or buy a sheet of MDF ($10) that lasts a few weeks.
      - foldr 6y ago
        Doesn't it cost about $1000 to build a printNC? And if you are just cutting sheets of wood or plastic, you don't really need a proper CAD package.

amelius 6y ago

Apparently, many users report that Fusion360 crashes often on Mac.