Best Free CAD software to use with Masso

[ian-mellin]

Hello,

Does anyone on this Forum have a decent recommendation for a Free Cad package that can be used to generate G-Code. I have looked at both VCarve Pro and Fushion 360 as paid option but they want stupid money yearly (Ouch)

Any recommendations.

Kind Regards

Ian

 

[breezy]

Ian,

Fusion is free if you select for personal use (non commercial). It is a rather convoluted path through their web pages to get there.

Regards,

Arie.

 

[ian-mellin]

Arie,

I already have that but they have been sneaky and disables some of the functionality needed. I.e if I want carve out some letters for example I can't set the Axis correctly to get it so I can select the chaining needed to map the tool path. Hence asking if anyone knew of a package that worked as well as Fushion 360 but was free, or a reasonable price.

Kind Regards

Ian.

 

[tmtoronto]

I have purchased a Onefinity CNC, and have been active in their forum. Several there use Easel, which has a free version (non Pro). Others like Carveco Maker, which has a monthly subscription of $15 - some members were able to offer discount codes for 5% off (not sure if that is an monthly or annual commitment). I am teaching myself Fusion 360 currently, and plan on purchasing Vectric Vcarve Desktop Pro - perhaps follow their upgrade path if I need to as I gain more real-life experience.

Tom

 

[breezy]

Ian,

I already have that but they have been sneaky and disables some of the functionality needed.

It was great when it first came out, you had full functionality, even though I didn't use some them, but now it has so much added in it takes ages to load when you have slow computer & internet connection. I only use the CAD & CAM parts and go into the gcode after PP and tweak parts that should be rapid moves to speed the program up a bit.

I plan to tweak the PP to make use of the new message feature that has been added to MASSO.

Regards,

Arie.

 

[ian-mellin]

Thanks for all the recommendations.



I plumped for v carve pro in the end as it does what I needed.