what design software to use?

[randlalfnasalfn]

Hi

Currently building an ox for timber routing. Have decided to use linuxcnc to control it.

What are the better options for design software? I am relatively proficient with sketchup, and the boss has good photoshop/gimp type skills. We are looking into what software we need (preferably free) to get us from product idea to gcode? The ideas we are making are a bit too artistic to make in sketchup.

idea -> hand sketch -> ??? -> ??? -> gcode -> cnc

Thanks

Dave

[Breezy]

What OS are you willing to use. Autodesk Fusion 360 is "free" to small businesses. It is a CAD/CAM program that produces the required gcode.


Regards, Arie.

[pippin88]

Fusion 360 is the best free CAD/CAM.

Vectric products are great for cnc routers.

[randlalfnasalfn]

ahhh, did not realise fusion was free (for 1 year), thanks!!

I am open to ubuntu and windows OS

[Breezy]

ahhh, did not realise fusion was free (for 1 year), thanks!!

I am open to ubuntu and windows OS

One thing I forgot to mention that Fusion 360 is total different to use than Sketchup, but once you get the hang of it, it's very powerful. I have only been using Fusion for a couple of months after years of Sketchup, I still hit the wrong shortcut keys. :no: Spend the time to go through all the tutorials several times it is worth it. The help system is good, it might take several tries to get the wording correct to find the solution you are looking for.

The reason for the OS question was that you mentioned Linux, I wasn't sure if you would use Windows.

[pippin88]

Fusion is free (or at least was) for anyone turning over less than $100,000 a year.

[Ger21]

The ideas we are making are a bit too artistic to make in sketchup.

Are you talking about 2D carvings, or 3D models?

[randlalfnasalfn]

hmmm, bit of both. I expect to be able to import an image into sketchup to do say a 2d carving.

[imr700x]

Inkscape is free and can do that and export as dxf for generating gcode . It has many other features such as converting raster images into vectors and creating 2D image files from photo's

[DavidG]

Artcam Express for 2D and 3D library pix and for making the cutting files for Mach 3.

Mach 3 for cutting

Turbocad for very exact detailed 2d design. DXF to Artcam

"Autodesk Fusion 360" and "123D Design" for 3D.