What software are you using and why?

[FishyFill]

Hi fello CNC nutters. I am wiring up my recently procured CNC 6040 with GECKO G540 driver. Getting close to needing software. I have been advised that Fusion 360 is quite functional. I have no issue with buying Mach 3 or better. I intend to do a fair bit of 3D carving in Hueon pine and other exotic Ozzy timbers. I also will be building a CNC plasma at a later stage to manufacture decorative steel screens.

I dont need an overly verbose response just a quick note including what and why.

not trying to start any IT storm. You can pm me if you like. Arohlf@bigpond.net.au.

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[ger21]

Control Software - UCCNC
Like a modern version of Mach3. But better, and cheaper.

Cad/CAM:

AutoCAD - 90% of my CAD/CAM. Been using it daily for 20 years.
Fusion 360 - for the Parametric CAD and assemblies.
Aspire - for V Carving and relief modeling.
MeshCAM - 3D CAM
Lightwave - 3D modeling.

[Stewey]

Corel Draw X3, with E-cut, and Enroute 4.
Photoshop CS2 & 5.
I like them, and they've kept me in business a long time- been using Corel since version 2.

[chich2]

Spaceclaim - Very powerful and easy to use but no CAM (WAY better CAD than Fusion IMHO)
Fusion 360 - Just getting started with it. Excellent CAM and collision detection and its full version, Free for hobbyists.

Linuxcnc - as it is about the only TRUE cnc controller available and its also free.
Fanuc - on my cnc lathe.

Cheers
Chich

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk

[tonigau]

Hi Fishy,
I use CorelDrawX4 for CAD,
Rhino for modelling & design.
Export 2d to EPS or other & suck it into Vectric Cut2d to layout, create Gcode & simulate the cut.
(Vectric also have Cut3d , I don't have it yet)
Using EazyCNC for machine control.

I chose my programs based on ergonomics & functionality + did some beta testing.

toni.g

[OlfCNC]

Hi fello CNC nutters. I am wiring up my recently procured CNC 6040 with GECKO G540 driver. Getting close to needing software. I have been advised that Fusion 360 is quite functional. I have no issue with buying Mach 3 or better. I intend to do a fair bit of 3D carving in Hueon pine and other exotic Ozzy timbers. I also will be building a CNC plasma at a later stage to manufacture decorative steel screens.

I dont need an overly verbose response just a quick note including what and why.

not trying to start any IT storm. You can pm me if you like. Arohlf@bigpond.net.au.

I'm using UCCNC and Sheetcam for plasma and Vectric for router.

[otpco]

Auto cad and sheet camTNG
Sheet cam isquick very easy to learn and the backup is so dam good

[ger21]

For 99% of the parts I make, I draw them in AutoCAD, and export g-code right from AutoCAD with a VBA macro I wrote.
For 3D parts modeled in AutoCAD, I use MeshCAM.
For more decorative stuff, I use Aspire.
Occasionally use Lightwave for 3D organic modelling.

Also using Fusion 360 for modelling machines and assemblies, and have just started learning the CAM. But for most things, I can get g-code out of AutoCAD in a fraction of the time it would take in Fusion 360.

UCCNC for machine control.

[FishyFill]

Thanks

[diyhands]

I also have 6040, 800kw (HUANYANG GDZ-65-800c) / HY01D523B 1.5kw Inverter

Driver:
GECKO G540

COM:
ESS (Ethernet Smooth Stepper)

GUI:
MACH 3

Design suite:
Autodesk Inventor with HSM CAM plugin

So far everything is solid, running good...... just can't get the Inverter controlled by MACH 3 yet, but im close! I just control speeds manually for now with the appropriate stops placed in Gcode to accommodate for this. But in order to run taps effectively and peck-drilling and stuff I want to get it figured out. I do my taps on the press afterwards or by hand... oh well... it works..

The design process is awesome.... been using Inventor for a while (6 years), now with the HSM CAM plugin its all handled right there in Inventor..... I model 3D (.step) or 2D (.dxf) and click a tab in inventor to set-up tools, stock, paths and rates...... simulate to double check my paths then generate my Gcode file that loads right into MACH 3...... Extremely simple once its given you atleast 5 or 6 more gray hairs..... honestly, took me about 2 weeks of coming home from work at 6 then of up all night when the house gets quiet and I can focus (till 12am or so) playing with it to really get my bearings enough to start feeling some sort of confidence getting it figured out.

[dharmic]

I'd been using Creo for a while but switched last year to Fusion 360.

There are things I don't like about Fusion - some functionality that's not implemented, the whole cloud aspect of it etc. But I do like the price. And I do like the huge user community and wealth of instructional and troubleshooting information on the web. The CAM part of it is pretty sweet, too: comparatively easy to use and some fairly intelligent toolpath generation algorithms.

I run Mach3 on the machine - but I'll be switching to UCCNC as soon as they get their fourth axis support sorted out.

[FishyFill]

Thank you for the info. Much appreciated.

Phil