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For those still looking for low cost CAD options....
- Thread starter Dabbler
- Start date
Great video @Dabbler John thank you for posting.
Anybody got a video reviewing CAM in 2024? My renewal for Fusion is coming right up. This year it's $657. I'm paying for 2 reasons. 1 CAM in the fusion hobby version is crippled, no rapids, and some other limitations I don't recall - CAM for me is essential. 2 I've got a lot of files and more all the time. 10 working models in the free version would be a pain.
Fusion is more every year though - if there is a low cost or free CAM alternative that would be compelling.
Anybody got a video reviewing CAM in 2024? My renewal for Fusion is coming right up. This year it's $657. I'm paying for 2 reasons. 1 CAM in the fusion hobby version is crippled, no rapids, and some other limitations I don't recall - CAM for me is essential. 2 I've got a lot of files and more all the time. 10 working models in the free version would be a pain.
Fusion is more every year though - if there is a low cost or free CAM alternative that would be compelling.
TorontoBuilder
Sapientia et Doctrina Stabilitas
I'll pay for fusion when I start using cam in it. The number of models isn't as big a pain as I'd expected.
slow-poke
Ultra Member
Thanks for posting.
I'm going to avoid any online only version as they almost always become "not free" as soon as you have invested enough time to learn the program.
One more down loadable option to consider FreeCad....
I do most of my simple modeling in my PCB layout program (just because: I have it and I'm familiar with it, it works with step files). but it's obviously limited and with my old version it does not have a text embossing feature.
I needed to print some odd shaped custom key caps with debosssed symbols and letters. Prusa slicer allows you to add text either embossed or debossed to your existing model, however it only allows you to save the embossed version as an STL file. I wanted to import the modified key caps back into my PCB program so I needed a way to convert the .stl files to step format. I found FreeCad and it was fairly trivial to get the embossed stl files converted to step.
I recently designed a control panel with a bunch of actual buttons as well as some soft buttons for future flexibility. Space was limited and I wanted a few more actual buttons and the best solution seemed to be delete the button labels adjacent to the buttons and label the actual buttons. Before and after images....
I'm going to avoid any online only version as they almost always become "not free" as soon as you have invested enough time to learn the program.
One more down loadable option to consider FreeCad....
I do most of my simple modeling in my PCB layout program (just because: I have it and I'm familiar with it, it works with step files). but it's obviously limited and with my old version it does not have a text embossing feature.
I needed to print some odd shaped custom key caps with debosssed symbols and letters. Prusa slicer allows you to add text either embossed or debossed to your existing model, however it only allows you to save the embossed version as an STL file. I wanted to import the modified key caps back into my PCB program so I needed a way to convert the .stl files to step format. I found FreeCad and it was fairly trivial to get the embossed stl files converted to step.
I recently designed a control panel with a bunch of actual buttons as well as some soft buttons for future flexibility. Space was limited and I wanted a few more actual buttons and the best solution seemed to be delete the button labels adjacent to the buttons and label the actual buttons. Before and after images....
gerritv
Gerrit
https://github.com/TimPaterson/Fusion360-Batch-Post gets rid of the tool change and rapids limitations in Free Fusion360. Works well once you get used to it.
To save on editable files, I create components in a single file for and entire assembly. This way I know all the parts fit together (project geometry and build it out) and can test motions as well.
Nothing missing has convinced me to pop up with 600+$. And on the odd chance I need it, I will rent for a month. In 5 years the need hasn't come up yet.
To save on editable files, I create components in a single file for and entire assembly. This way I know all the parts fit together (project geometry and build it out) and can test motions as well.
Nothing missing has convinced me to pop up with 600+$. And on the odd chance I need it, I will rent for a month. In 5 years the need hasn't come up yet.
TorontoBuilder
Sapientia et Doctrina Stabilitas
This is great to know.
Maybe I need to pull the pin on a cheapo 16x16 cnc router just to play around a bit and start learning before I buy a more expensive router
It’s a great tool to have
