Help getting started with software

Mostly Printed CNC - MPCNC Advice
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I took the plunge and got some guidance on parts and router. But now I’m looking for a opinions on software. I ordered all the parts to a MPCNC and a kobalt trim router. The controller is the v1 jackpot. I will be working off a Mac and I’ve just started messing around with Easel and FreeCAD. What suggestions for CAD and CAM software for Macs would you have?

Also I ordered the variety 5 pack of bits for the router. Will this do the majority of cuts? What if any other should I have?

Thank you for any direction.

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I’m also on Mac.

A great CAM software that’s affordable, popular, and easy to use, is ESTLcam. It has a free trial, and instead of a subscription, it can be purchased with a one time payment. The only issue is that it’s Windows only. On my Macbook Pro M1 Max, I run a popular virtual machine software called Parallels Desktop, and it allows me to run Windows on my Mac, side by side with MacOS. Since i’m on a Mac with “Apple Silicon” (ARM based processor), it means the Windows version has to be the ARM-based version. This has been out now for quite a while, and it is fully supported by Microsoft. The Windows install runs fine, and allows me to run various Windows only programs, including ESTLcam.

For CAD, I use a variety of 2D and 3D programs.

For 2D, I have Affinity Designer 2 and CorelDraw (both are vector illustration softwares). With 2D you can draw what you want cut, export it as SVG or DXF, and import that into ESTLcam.

For 3D, I have the 2017 edition of SketchUp, because it was the last free version that could be downloaded and installed on the local computer instead of being browser based cloud editing. Also, I have Autodesk’s Fusion 360. Now Fusion has a free Hobbyist license, but because of our church school, I have free access to academic license of the full software.

The 3D software offers ways to create in 3D, then select a plane or faces, and export them as 2D, for opening in ESTLcam.

ESTLcam also has a way to open 3D files, for instance it can open STL files, and it can do CAM programming for giving you code to “carve” the 3D shape.

This will be good. Just remember bits are a consumable. They get dull with enough use, even if you don’t hit a screw. Some softer materials like MDF or even some woods, can be cut with a not-so-sharp bit. But cuts in hardwoods and metals will really need a fresher, sharper bit.

EDIT to add: To make the 2017 edition of SketchUp capable enough for me, I use a variety of free extensions, and a couple of paid extensions (one-time purchase stuff).

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I second everything Doug said here. With one adjustment, I believe that Parallels is a paid program. I used it in the past but switched to VMware Fusion which is the same thing but has a “free for personal use” option. I run my ESTLcam instance setup the same way otherwise.

@DougJoseph did you have Affinity Designer 1? If so, is it worth the upgrade to Designer 2?

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Good point!

Regarding affinity, I never had version one. They were already a version two when I purchased it, so I have no frame of reference there.

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Roger. I have Version 1. Works great, but Im a sucker for new and shiny. Just curious!

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Welcome to another outlier! :smiley:

It could be said that I am an arrogant Mac user, so deeply ensconced in the Apple ecosystem that my cognitive bias cannot fail to show. The reality is that I have an enormous number of things that are more important to me than maintaining yet another OS, so I have thus far avoided any emulation software.

I am happy to pay for software that I use, but as it turns out there is a fine suite of resources you can use for free!

Don’t forget if you choose to run an emulation software, you will also have to pay for Windows OS as well. There are other emulation solutions that will work happily too if you are so inclined.

However.

For CAD I use the free version of ONSHAPE - it takes care of my 2D stuff as well as 3D modelling.

For CAM - Kiri:Moto has served my very modest needs thus far. At this time it can’t do trochoidal milling or proper V carve, but it’s also free and very well supported, and will do all that most ask of it.

Kiri:Moto is a little closer to the Mac interface than most and uses STL or vector files so there’s a lot of flexibility there.

I’ve never had much luck using InkScape, but a great free Mac-Centric alternative if you need graphic software is Linearity Curve.

I tend to use PhotoShop for that sort of stuff though since I pay my monthly subscription and may as well get the most out of it!

Many are waiting for the release of Lightburn’s MillMage hopefully later this year, which we hope will be the equivalent of all of the best commercial packages combined at a very modest cost! :wink: Don’t hold your breath, play with any of the recommendations in this thread and have fun!

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Were you actually able to find a Kobalt router? I had myself on their notification list because there weren’t any in any stores nationwide. But I happened to find one on Facebook Marketplace.

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I hope it’s the right one K7TR? My Lowes had 3 but I found one on eBay a little cheaper

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That’s the one that I got. It’s the one indicated on the site. But you could basically use any trim router if you find a mount that works for it. When you get your kit, take all the extra stuff off the router and slide the mount on it. If it fits, you’re golden.

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Yes that’s the one I have coming and the kobalt mount!

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