Hi everyone. Im new to the whole CNC game. I just got a shapeoko xxl and have had good success cutting out parts that i purchased via etsy and other means. I am to the point where i would like to create my own parts and am finding it hard to decided on a software that makes it easy for a newbie like me. I have tried fusion 360 but can’t seem to get any file out of it with out the correct process. I was just wondering if there is an easier program to use than fusion and not limiting like carbide create that I can build my own parts and don’t have to go through a hundred steps to get into a g code for the shapeoko. Thanks and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Search Vectric software - Cut 2d if only 2D - V Carve if you want to do V Carve.
LOTS of info in the forum for these programs
List of the free/opensource stuff at: https://wiki.shapeoko.com/index.php/CAD and https://wiki.shapeoko.com/index.php/CAM — commercial software at: https://wiki.shapeoko.com/index.php/Commercial_Software
If you’d let us know what sort of parts you’re having difficulty with in Carbide Create we might be able to better advise — I will note that using Inkscape or some other vector editor as a front-end for Carbide Create makes it surprisingly capable.
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What do you want to make? (pictures of examples help) All answers depend on that.
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So its not that i can’t make something in carbide, I like the software. Its the inability to make stuff to dimension without making a whole bunch of boxes to determine the size. As for the parts I am trying to make, nothing fancy all 2d at this point.
Have you tried drawing things up in some other tool such as Inkscape, importing into Carbide Create, and then using the latter only for CAM/toolpaths?
I have not used inkscape yet, I thought that was more for signs etc, I have tried to use draftsight but the free version as left some components out. It looks like for a fair price Vetric cut 2d may be the way to go. I am familiar with autocad as I used to use it in college 15years ago and that seems to be close to it.
If you’re familiar with autocad, it wouldn’t be a stretch to jump into Fusion 360 (free for hobbyists). It’s nice to be able to dimension a sketch.
I do like fusion, it is very familiar to me. I just haven’t quite figured out how to make Toolpaths and get the file to carbide motion. Is there a video on how to do this?
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