I mostly concur with all your points. I do very little 3D work and what I have done I have either used the Vectric ClipArt Library or purchased the model from Design&Make. I have made some very minor changes to those models in Aspire but nothing major. Since I don’t have a rotary all my work uses two sided machining so I can’t comment on that aspect.
I frequently use Sketchup to develop multicomponent models, like bookcases, and have found that the Vectric Aspire interface works very well once you get some experience using it. It is a big time saver for 2D machining parts from components defined in Sketchup. I have not tried using Sketchup to create a single component 3D model and export the STL into a Vectric product but I think it can be done and should not be ruled out as a very cost effective possibility.
I have tried using Aspire to create 3D models but have not been able to put enough time in to fully learn how best to use all the tools. I have seen videos where others have mastered that art with great success so I think it can be done, I have no doubt that some other 3D CAD products may be easier to use and I can attest that importing a STL model into Vectric for machining is very straightforward.
The only other 3D CAD software I have tried is Rhino and Fusion but I found both have too steep of a learning curve for my limited need to develop unique 3D models. While I own and use Aspire I could probably easily use vCarve Pro for 99% of what I need.
| jjneeb
June 1 |
As the linked thread above (and another in that) show, there are lots of options.
I have not tried them all, but I have used F360, and Vectric, and tried Shapr3D and a couple others.
I personally like Vectric Vcarve Pro as my main CAD/CAM for a CNC router and laser if you want to do both machined parts, and artistic things (like 2.5/3D carves). It also supports rotary work.
However, in Vcarve you design in 2D, and then when you create the toolpath, that machining creates the 3D image in the simulator. It can’t create a 3D model.
However, you can load and machine a 3D model.
If you want to create 3D artistic models, I think Aspire is good, but I don’t think its very good for making 3D models of machine parts.
If you want to design everything as a 3D model up front, then I don’t think Vectric products are for you (its just not how they work), so you’d probably want something like F360. I don’t know why, but F360 to me is the opposite of intuitive and takes me forever to design anything, and I haven’t even bothered to try and do CAM with it because the design was so tedious.
For furniture/architecture, I like Sketchup. I haven’t tried importing those into Vectric yet though to see how well the parts import for machining.
Overall, if you can make a good go of F360 and don’t find it as cumbersome as I do, its probably a good choice. Very capable and good price all around.
If you like the Vectric interface, I can say that there isn’t a machined part I couldn’t make with that, with normal 3 axis routing/lasering. When I need a 3D model for the rotary axis, I make it elsewhere and import it.
There are lots of other choices, but they are usually much more expensive if they are integrated CAD/CAM, or much less integrated if they are a lot cheaper. With the cheap ones, you kind of have to build your own process between a few programs.