I've been using FreeCAD for 3D printing, where the entire tool chain exists. I haven't used it yet to produce G code for LinuxCNC to make metal chips. I'd say we're finally getting close to an open source CAD/CAM solution. The CAD is just recently usable for decent sized projects. I'm using it for production work for 3D printing. You probably wouldn't want to design a large assembly with FreeCAD quite yet, but for smaller assemblies and parts of medium complexity, it seems quite good. Not 100% (make intermediate backups of your work), but close enough for my needs. I've been intermittently following open source CAD/CAM tools for many years. I'd say FreeCAD became a usable tool for most users within the last several months.
The CAM solution isn't quite ready for FreeCAD, although FreeCAM is an active open source project and work is progressing. I'm eager for FreeCAM to be a useful tool. FreeCAD can output to a very large number of file formats. If you already have a CAM tool you like, there's a good chance FreeCAD can produce a file that your CAM software can input. PyCAM will input STL files produced by FreeCAD, but I haven't tried generating G code and milling any parts. Huge thanks to all of the developers who produce these wonderful software tools that greatly enhance our lives and our productivity, whether it's LinuxCNC, FreeCAD, FreeCAM, etc. > On 05/18/2017 05:22 PM, Chris Albertson wrote: >> Just one question: Have you been able to make it work? That is, >> design a >> project in FreeCAD that has a few simple parts then produce g-code from >> those design files and actually make the part using EMC/Machine kit. >> >> Could you tell us the workflow you use? And can it make full 3D >> parts on >> a four axis mill or is this limited to (say) 2 1/2 D parts? >> >> If there really is a simple workflow that goes from drawings to metal >> with >> linux I'd like to give it a try. Last time I tried to use all open >> source tools I was stuck at the point where I have a 3D design but could >> not turn that file into g-code. Maybe things have changed now? >> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
