How many people used a cad Program to design there cnc machine?

[ROB C]

Just curious on how many people used cad program to design there machine before they built it?

I use Solidworks, and have went through 4 designs to find the right one.

[Allyd1964]

+1 for SolidWorks, still trying for a design that I'm happy with and the wife will approve funding for. It's a hard mix

[bclark6716]

I used PRO/E

[millman52]

I used AutoCad for developing some prints to work from. I do not have a full set of plans by any standard. But it was a big help to keep from "painting myself into a corner."

[CARLOS DERAS]

I use NX5 for design and manufacturing .

[ImanCarrot]

AutoCAD for the drawing then import it into Dolphin CAM.

[cadman]

We use SolidWorks here. Soilidworks must be the Canadian version

[thkoutsidthebox]

I used Google Sketchup! Might not give nice renders at the end, but hey, its free.

[Smitty911]

Purchased Alibre, first drawings that I have ever done.

Smitty

[cadcamslawek]

solid works

[Bowman]

sketching ideas and designs in AutoCAD but since I am building a Frankenstein ebay special for the most part my parts themselves are sort of dictating my design in a lot of ways. Limited by the means to the end sort of helps with making it all work. Still have the long X to work out yet myself but I know I am going to use the whole 6' of screw so thats something I can work with.

I feel you can design a million things over and over especially looking at the gallery and commercial designs can give you ideas out the wazoo but you have to set a criteria and try your best to stay within it otherwise you will always be building and rebuilding, Once is enough ( or twice lol ) .

Unless your on an unlimited budget to spec out exactly what you design calls for in your dream world your going to be constrained to what you have to work with, go with it and then add on from there. ( says the guy without the X axis )

Bowman

[eman5oh]

I use Autodesk Inventor because that is what we use at work.