What are the lowest cost CAD CAM programs

[jimtom]

Hi All
I am new to cnc and have started building a 3 axis router, my question is what are the lowest cost or free CAD and CAM programs that are most common, I cannot afford the brand name packages, I would like to do 3D solids and 2D work, is there really a low cost or free option? or is it not worth the effort to look into such programs

Thanks in advance
Jim

[sdantonio]

Originally Posted by jimtom Hi All I am new to cnc and have started building a 3 axis router, my question is what are the lowest cost or free CAD and CAM programs that are most common, I cannot afford the brand name packages, I would like to do 3D solids and 2D work, is there really a low cost or free option? or is it not worth the effort to look into such programs Thanks in advance Jim

I guess the lowest cost ones are the free ones like layzcam or free mill (the free version of visual mill). There are free CAD packages out there too. But often you get what you pay for. There is a bunch of free stuff that runs on linux too.

Now that I think of it, try cambam from 10bulls (search here and you'll find it). This one is an integrated cad/cam package that actually looks really good, though I haven't used it myself. And 10bulls is a good, highly reputable, no bull, kind of guy (pun intended).

The only way to see if the free or low cost options will fill your needs is to try then out for yourself. To paraphrase fox news... "we recomend, you decide"

[ger21]

Free CAD:
www.a9tech.com
www.progecad.com - new version not yet available
http://www.ugs.com/products/velocity/solidedge/free2d/
www.alibre.com/xpress
http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/inventor_lt/


Free CAM
ACE - www.dakeng.com
Freemill - www.cncportal.com
LazyCAM - included in Mach3 download - www.machsupport.com

Low Cost CAM
www.sheetcam.com
www.meshcam.com

[jimtom]

Steven , Gerry
Thanks for the info, I will test out a few, and even inventor LT, which is free for a year, great!

[grahamshere]

HI, dont know if you found what your looking for but try www.moi3d.com for free cad program, its batea right now but very easy to use , the creator was one of the creators for rhino cad and its very much like rihno.Graham

[FPV_GTp]

hi

interesting programs for beginners

[MIKE JEFFERS]

think dolphin do a lo cost hobby package
cambam
see forums below