Overall, VCarve Pro is a great tool for CAD modeling and CAM toolpath generation if you're working with wood, aluminum, and other non-ferrous metals. The community at the Vectric forum can be really helpful for learning and troubleshooting. Vectric brings out newer versions of their software occasionally and to do the upgrade, you need to pay an upgradation fee. There is a free unlimited trial offered for this software which lets you test its features except for saving toolpaths and exporting functions. However, that also limits the capabilities a bit. This software is easier to learn and has a much lower learning curve compared to Fusion 360. Vectric has brought out dozens of free videos that teach you how to use the software with your CNC machine, and this is a great advantage for beginners. Vectric brings out newer versions of their software occasionally, and you will need to pay an upgradation fee to get your existing license upgraded to the newer version. VCarve Pro sells at $700 for a single license. VCarve Pro does not have adaptive milling in its CAM module, and that's a key difference from Fusion 360. It also provides the 2-sided machining feature, which comes really handy for machining two sides of an object in a single session. In terms of CAM features, it offers toolpath generation for Machining, pocketing, drilling, inlays, threading, and engraving. Vectric's Aspire is a better choice for 3D modeling projects.Īpart from the 2D designing, it also provides features such as image tracing from an existing photo and trueshape nesting (for optimum workpiece utilization). However, it cannot be used for 3D modeling. This software lets you make 2D and 2.5D models and generate their toolpath (CAM) without the need for a separate CAM software. Vectric's VCarve Pro is a CAD plus CAM solution for CNC machining. It can be made to work with Marlin controllers, but getting it to do so would require some tinkering.Īpart from that, it has a wide user base with dozens of tutorial videos and a dedicated community forum that can help you resolve any hiccups that you might face while using the software. You can connect to your CNC machine via a USB cable, and Easel works best with GRBL controllers. It is an easy-to-use software with a good user interface, making it ideal for beginners with basic knowledge of CAD/CAM. While you can use the basic features of the Easel software for free, it has a pro version that has the V-carve option, 3D carving option, allows you to work on 4x8 workpieces, has more tool and design libraries, and much more.Įasel Pro has a monthly subscription fee of around $25 per month, or you can get a yearly subscription for around $21 per month. It is web-based software and doesn’t require you to install any software therefore, it can run on almost any computer with an active Internet connection. The Easel software from Inventables is a truly all-in-one software that lets you do everything from CAD, CAM, and Control within a single software. List of CNC software and their categories There are dedicated software programs for each of these functions, but there are all-in-one software bundles that do everything as well.Īfter carefully considering the ease of use, learning curve, reliability, compatibility, and community support, I have put together a list of some of the best software for your CNC application. However, many software programs can do more than one function among the four. Simulation software: reads the G-code and predicts errors that may arise while machining.Control Software: reads the G-code and creates signals to control the stepper motor drives.Computer-Aided Machining (CAM) software: Converts the designs to G-code, a language understood by machines.Computer-Aided Designing (CAD) software: Creates 2D, 2.5D, or 3D designs.In a CNC machining process, there are four kinds of software involved. Here I walk you through all the best software choices for CNC routers and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each. I wanted to figure out how these software programs worked and which software was best for a particular purpose (like hobby CNC and Production CNC work). When I first stepped into the world of CNCs, I was overwhelmed by the many software programs used in the process.
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