On 24 July 2018 at 05:17, John Dammeyer <jo...@autoartisans.com> wrote:
> So what OS and CAD/CAM software are users of LinuxCNC working with? I would like to use all-FOSS but haven't found anything quite right. As background I am a Mac user. When it came to a choice between Mach and LinuxCNC I went with the latter largely as I didn't want to have to buy a Windows licence. (not a decision I have regretted). I didn't, at that time, have any real experience with Linux. I have worked as a full-time CAD-jockey using Autodesk Inventor. I have also used Alibre a number of years ago, because it was free. I did quite a bit of work with it then found my designs orphaned with the switch to Geomagic. Now that I have access to a free home license if Inventor I tend to use that. As a Mac user I like that I can run Fusion360 natively, and the workflow is enough like that of Inventor that I sometimes use that instead. Fusion and Inventor share the same CAM system (bit Fusion CAM has a few more advanced toolpaths than the free version of Inventor HSM, Or at least this was the case last time I looked) I have uses CamBam, and it was OK. SheetCAM is good for laser / plasma stuff and usable for 2.5D milling too. Available for Linux too, and the developer is on this mailing list. I tried PyCAM a while ago. I liked that it was cross-platform, but at the time I tried it the 3D toolpath generation took _way_ too long. Overnight at best... This might have improved now, though it is no longer cross platform according to http://pycam.sourceforge.net/ So, I think I am like many others in using Fusion because it is excellent, but feeling a little cheapened by the experience. -- atp "A motorcycle is a bicycle with a pandemonium attachment and is designed for the especial use of mechanical geniuses, daredevils and lunatics." — George Fitch, Atlanta Constitution Newspaper, 1916 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
