Cad software that you use, or plan to use

CAD (Design) Software Carbide Create
21

I will be using Fusion 360.

22

If you decide on getting Carveco, use my coupon code for 5% off ā€œmyerswoodshopā€
I have it, and will be learning it, and doing videos on it in the future.

2 Likes
23

myerswoodshop doesnā€™t seem to be a valid promo code. Could just be me. rogerwebb5 works.

24

weird. It isnā€™t working for me now either. I sent them an email, hopefully they will fix that.

25

I really wish more people made cross-platform software ā€“ especially in the CAD/CAM world. Iā€™ve gone all native now, so Iā€™m not going backā€¦

26

Are the software packages being offered, going to have a monthly or a yearly fee.? Or are some of the software packages going to be sold as an individual software package (by separate releases). I.E. Vetric Rel 9 , then upgrade to Vetric Rel 10? thenā€¦11,12 and so onā€¦ Will Fusion 360 still be free and only be able to use and save work to the cloud only?

27

I can only speak to packages I know about. Fusion360 remains free to hobby users and it looks like it will remain so for the foreseeable future. Vetric sw makes you pay for major releases but if you buy a major and the next comes out within the next several months they give you the next upgrade free.

28

I am in sticker shock from Aspire and even Pro. This will be my first CNC. I am leaning for myself carveco. the 15$ a month is do able. Most of the time i go for the bigger price, as long as i can use it forever. like how i think aspire and pro work? but 700$ for myself just starting off is just not smart at all. (I do own 5 3d printers so the hardware is not intimidating at all. but the software is driving me nuts)

1 Like
29

Just a friendly reminder, for those starting out Easel from Inventables is a great FREE software (Yes it is no Fusion 360) but it really can do a TON of things. A lot of people think you need to buy an X-Carve to use it, but it is open to everyone.

Only difference is if you buy an X-Carve you get access to Easel PRO for a set amount of time, then 5 Free days a Month in perpetuity. Pro gives you more default bits, more finite carving. With that said for 4 years I never needed to use a Pro Day everything Iā€™ve created I designed and cut in Easel start to finish.

You can even download it without a machine to start playing with it.
Explore Easel

Just wanted to make sure folks were aware of it.

Hope it helps!

4 Likes
30

As MindofMcClure said Easel is free and you can make things fast and easy with it.
Vcarve you can buy the Desktop Vcarve half the price of ProVcarve. Desktop vcrave limit 24"x24" .
What you pay for the Desktop vcarve will be applied the the cost if you upgrade to Pro or Aspire.

31

I have been using Vetric VCarve Pro with great success. It does cost, but once you are through the learning curve, the software is incredibly powerful. Although, I am still on a learning curve. :slight_smile:

1 Like
32

I really wish VCarve came native for the Mac. There are a couple features that are nearly impossible to pull off in Fusion. It does run in Wine/Crossover but thatā€™s suboptimal IMHO. Iā€™ll add for CAM, Iā€™ve used CamBam with great success (Windows and Linux supported) and itā€™s 50 to 90% less expensive than some of the other options.

33

Did you upgrade from Vcarve Pro to Aspire? If so, do they allow the full price of Vcarve off for the upgrade?

34

The purpose of my Onefinity purchase is prototyping solid body guitars. Base upon your experience, do you believe that Vcarve would suffice, or would you recommend that I go straight to Aspire? Aspire is a bit out of my budget, but I noticed they offer a fully functional trial. If it works out for me, Iā€™d gladly pay the $2000 once I know I can use the software and it does what I need. But, if Vcarve would suffice for my goals, itā€™s only $700. What would you recommend?

35

Yes they do, I havenā€™t purchased it yet (donā€™t have my OF yet either). But this is the biggest factor in my decision that this is the company I will go with when I do purchase the s/w, they let you grow into exactly the version of s/w you need without penalizing you for not buying all at once. Brilliant!

36

Primarily Fusion 360, unless I donā€™t have internet access;
Then Inventor for when I know Iā€™ll be offline only;
Been looking at FreeCAD, and wouldnā€™t mind becoming more familiar with that as a solid backup for when my access to Inventor / non-free Fusion ever expire (or Autodesk ends up annoying me too much).

I have CarbideCreate / CarbideMotion (for use with my Nomad), but other than the most basic of cuts (surfacing, or just cutting out basic shapes) - I simply donā€™t like the flow, but thatā€™s just me.

1 Like
37

Been using Vectric VCarve for three years and love it. Simple, intuitive and the customer support is fantastic.

38

Vectric doesnā€™t have any monthly or annual fees, you only pay for major version upgrades (9.0 ā†’ 10.0). Incremental upgrades are free.

39

Paul- how much are the Major version upgrades? thanks

40

With Vcarve Desktop free trial version, can you save and export a gcode to carve with the Onefinity? Currently only using Easel but exploring options but am not ready to fork out the money for a design program at this stage.