Which SW for 2.5D work?

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

For importing an STL the commercial Carbide 3D options are:

MeshCAM:

MeshCAM - CNC Software - CAD/CAM Software

or Alibre Atom3D Workshop if you also need CAM:

Alibre Workshop CAD/CAM

and Carbide Create Pro:

Carbide Create Pro

For the specifics on the latter, see:

Instructions on How To 3D Carve using CC V7 Pro

First, configure the stock: [image] Draw in the geometry for the bowl and place as desired: [image] Inset by the desired width of the rim of the bowl: [image] [image] Offset to the outside of the bowl by endmill diameter plus 10%: [image] [image] Draw in geometry to define the stock (since we’ll be working subtractively): [image] Go to the 3D model tab and model the stock: [image] Select the geometry for the inner curve of the bowl and model it: [image] [image] Then im…

A free program to replace PathCAM is Carbide Create v6:

Download Carbide Create V6

There are various free and opensource options, and other commercial ones. What sort of STLs are you working with and how do you intend to approach them?