Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
Currently I'm using fusion 360 which us free for a hobbiest and it's been great. So far it has been able to do anything I want, but now that I've added a 4th axis to my machine, the cam is a bit lacking. Handles 3+1 just fine and a few other things like tool path wrap, but isn't currently able to do a lot of 4 axis simultaneous stuff that I would like. I've seen videos of cheaper machines like the stepcraft doing simultaneous 4 on complex shapes so I assume there must be some cheap cam programs out there that can do it. Any suggestions?
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
Subscribed. All the fancy 5A stuff but 4A seems to be sadly lacking in Fusion, you can wrap a couple of operations but that seems to be about it. For what it's worth, even at $20k a seat, PTC Creo was pretty rubbish at 4A continuous too. Dunno about you but all I wanted was to be able to do lathe like operations using the 4A and a rotating cutter in the mill.
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
DeskProto can do it, using Mesh models.
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
Probably doesn't fall into your cheap/free range, though.
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
The new 7.0 version of DeskProto does have a lot more of the basic 2.5D CAM functions - pocketing, drilling, etc,- than previous versions had. If you haven't looked at it recently, you might check again. It's cheap compared to other programs that support continuous 4-axis machining, and if you're a hobbyist, it's much cheaper - we sell the multi-axis version for $248 to them (unless the dollar falls further against the euro, in which case it will have to go up.)
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
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I guess I just pictured it being less simple to select specific edges, corners, faces, etc. When working with an stl. I'll just have to see how it works.
I would think the process would be automated. It would be nearly impossible to select edges in an .stl.
I'm assuming it works like MeshCAM, which has hole detection and arc detection with .stl files.
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
Deskproto doesn't have feature recognition; it treats the whole STL mesh as a single object. Its pockets and holes are driven by separate DXF input. If you need to select edges, etc,that works much better with a different kind of file format, like IGES or STEP, and requires a different sort of CAM program.
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
I have been looking for the same thing recently. It looks like the situation hasn’t changed much in 2023. There is still no free CAM software for simultaneous 4-axis.
The least expensive commercial options I was able to find are:
- For polygon meshes and organic shapes - DeskProto - $1100
- For NURBS geometry - Visual CAD/CAM Expert - $2500
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
Hi Storen - Have you looked at FreeCAD? Peter
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
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Originally Posted by
peteeng
Hi Storen - Have you looked at FreeCAD? Peter
Hi Peter, good call! Thank you for mentioning FreeCAD. A couple of months ago I installed a copy and went over the features and the documentation. I have to admit I must have overlooked the 4th-axis functions.
Frankly, I was very annoyed with the software and didn’t spend a long time experimenting with it. The interface is a complete mess... The main developers either don't care or like it this way. A while ago there were a couple of interface designers offering to help improve the UI but received zero support from the developers. Additionally, it is very poorly documented. I found I am spending more time fighting the software for very basic operations than doing something useful with it.
However, if the most affordable commercial alternative is 2.5K I feel I should give it a second try before I decide. I can see how it can be an attractive option for intermittent noncommercial users. When choosing between selling a kidney, installing a cracked copy, or using an open-source application with a terrible interface and documentation many will choose the latter.
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
I've been testing the FreeCAD CAM functions for the past couple of days. The results are discouraging. It seems the software is in a very early experimental (alpha) stage. The functionality is very limited, the code is buggy, and the program frequently crashes, freezes, and displays error messages for no apparent reason. It is even more problematic when working with imported complex models. Unfortunately, I have to scratch FreeCAD from the list of options.
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
Hi,
I use Fusion and have had a basic subscription for several years. A few months ago I bought an introductory offer (25% discount) of the Machining Extensions
which handle genuine four and five axis, collision avoidance , toolpath editing etc. So far I have found it very good. The only 'fly in the ointment' is the cost.....$1600USD/year,
and that's over and above the basic subscription.
I've done some research and actually $1600/year is very competitive among the serious contenders, and that's why I got it. Whether I can justify renewing the subscription
when it comes due at the end of July remains to be seen.
Craig
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
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Originally Posted by
joeavaerage
I use Fusion and have had a basic subscription for several years.
According to the information on the Autodesk site, the discounts apply for one year only and cannot be extended. The Full price of a one-year subscription for Fusion 360 Machining is $2145 ($545+$1600). The price with the discount is $1502 ($382+$1120).
So in the best case (discounts), the subscription for two years is $3647. Of course, you will have to continue paying if you want to use the software further.
The Visual CAM license is perpetual - $2500. I haven't used Visual CAM personally but based on the information I was able to find it is significantly more powerful with more functions than the HSM CAM modules included in Fusion 360. Overall Visual CAM seems a better deal.
The main advantage of Fusion is that comes with CAD modeling tools, however, if you use different CAD paying these annual subscription fees would be difficult to justify.
What surprises me the most is with so many CAM options competing on the market there is nothing cheaper than $2500 and there isn't even one noncommercial option (NURBS).
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
I sell the Expert edition of Mecsoft's VisualCADCAM (which includes the 4th axis functions) for $2250, so that's a little cheaper. And the commercial multi-axis version of Deskproto is $950, if you get it from me. https://computersculpture.com/tool-paths
Re: Any options for cheap/free 4 axis simultaneous cam?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
awerby
I sell the Expert edition of Mecsoft's VisualCADCAM (which includes the 4th axis functions) for $2250, so that's a little cheaper. And the commercial multi-axis version of Deskproto is $950, if you get it from me.
https://computersculpture.com/tool-paths
Awesome! I assume you are an expert user of Visual CAM. Have you tried the latest Fusion 4-axis functions? I wonder how both products compare in terms of continuous 4-axis milling. What would be the main advantages of Visual CAM?