Thanks: 
Likes: 
Needs Pictures: 
Picture(s) thanks:
Results 1 to 10 of 10
Thread: what design software to use?
-
3rd May 2016, 11:23 PM #1
Novice
- Join Date
- Nov 2015
- Location
- Pinjarra Hills, Brisbane
- Posts
- 12
what design software to use?
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
-
3rd May 2016 11:23 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
5th May 2016, 03:00 PM #2
Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Perth, Western Australia
- Posts
- 96
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.Arie.
-
5th May 2016, 08:43 PM #3
SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Location
- Newcastle
- Posts
- 549
Fusion 360 is the best free CAD/CAM.
Vectric products are great for cnc routers.
-
5th May 2016, 08:54 PM #4
Novice
- Join Date
- Nov 2015
- Location
- Pinjarra Hills, Brisbane
- Posts
- 12
ahhh, did not realise fusion was free (for 1 year), thanks!!
I am open to ubuntu and windows OS
-
5th May 2016, 10:06 PM #5
Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Perth, Western Australia
- Posts
- 96
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.
Originally Posted by randlalfnasalfn
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.Arie.
-
10th May 2016, 04:57 PM #6
SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Location
- Newcastle
- Posts
- 549
Fusion is free (or at least was) for anyone turning over less than $100,000 a year.
-
12th May 2016, 04:45 AM #7
Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- Detroit, Michigan
- Age
- 60
- Posts
- 72
Are you talking about 2D carvings, or 3D models?The ideas we are making are a bit too artistic to make in sketchup.Gerry
-
12th May 2016, 11:37 PM #8
Novice
- Join Date
- Nov 2015
- Location
- Pinjarra Hills, Brisbane
- Posts
- 12
hmmm, bit of both. I expect to be able to import an image into sketchup to do say a 2d carving.
-
19th June 2016, 01:37 PM #9
New Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2013
- Location
- wyong
- Posts
- 8
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
-
7th August 2016, 06:08 PM #10
Super Moderator
- Join Date
- Aug 2003
- Location
- Conder, ACT
- Age
- 77
- Posts
- 6,051
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.
Reply With Quote
Similar Threads
-
cnc design software
By jack9026 in forum DESIGN & DESIGNING / GOOGLE SKETCHUPReplies: 1Last Post: 25th June 2016, 10:56 PM -
Finding Engineering Design Software For Automatic Machine Design
By davidWilliams in forum METALWORK FORUMReplies: 2Last Post: 11th January 2010, 10:41 PM -
Design software?
By HTM in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 5Last Post: 2nd June 2009, 09:12 AM -
design software
By jow104 in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 0Last Post: 21st July 2004, 06:15 PM
