Is there an all in one program like easel that isnt internet based?

Easel
21

free = sketchup with the sketchucam plugin.

There are other software choices but it depends on how complicated a piece you plan on producing.

22

Thanks, Zach.

I just ran across V-carve and it sure looks like it might do what I want. When I get my X-carve Iā€™ll download the trial.

$250 is significant money, but good tools are worth a lot. Have you priced a really good quality milling bit lately. Sure there are cheaper ones, but ā€¦

23

Sketchup is only free if one uses an older version, the current Sketchup Make has a license which prohibits any commercial use.

24

Iā€™m now convinced that the best free option is Fusion 360. Itā€™s free for hobbyists and startup and includes what some have told me is ā€œworld classā€ CAM in itā€¦ what some others pay thousands for in solidworks apparently. Anyhow, I tried using it twice and gave up on it both times. But the third time has been the charm. Iā€™m super impressed with it and it is able to CAD and CAM together.

Hereā€™s the video that finally put me over the edge to give it a shot:

25

Yes Fusion 360 includes HSM Works which is a very powerful CAM tool. With power comes complexity so expect a learning curve.

26

The internet base software is what is keeping me from purchasing the x-carve.

27

You could very easily create your project in Easel on an internet-enabled computer, then export the gcode from Easel, save it on a thumb drive, and use something like Universal Gcode Sender (UGS) on a non-connected machine to run the gcode.

28

The internet base software is what is keeping me from purchasing the x-carve.

Iā€™m not fond of the whole ā€œcloudā€ movement as Iā€™ve seen it before and know the problems that can occur.

However, there are other software tools that you can use with the X-carve so if you like the machine I would still give it a chance.

In fact I did, I ordered one and will not be using Easel (maybe occasionally).

29

Thanks, Iā€™ve been contemplating for weeks over this. I use Corel Draw for all my design work.

30

You might try the following;

  1. Download Adobe Flash Player and install it. (Version 16 runs on Windows XP and above)
  2. Go open http://www.makercam.com/.
  3. Save the web page (control s in Firefox).
  4. Look for the directory ā€œwww.makercam.com_filesā€ where you saved the web page to.
  5. Open it and there should be a file ā€œmakercam.swfā€ open it with the Adobe Flash Player.
  6. You can open and import an SGV file directly in it and create your various cut and pocket profiles in the ā€œCAMā€ option.

This is not an all in one solution but I have used it for some things created in inkscape and have an outside shop as well (it has a low WiFi signal from my house router) and I wanted to run my router with an older Windows XP machine and not connect it to the internet.

I tend to keep my tools organized as follows (screen shot of my C:\usr\bin):

Scott

31

Thanks Sketch! I like to do my computer based stuff in the house and the shop stuff in the shop - just my quirky way! Aside from that there isnā€™t a way I can get an Internet connection to my shop since itā€™s over 100 yards from the house.

I just received my x-carve so Iā€™ll let you all know how I get on.

1 Like
32

If you are able to tolerate a somewhat slower speed you can get wireless internet to your shop. I run a wireless connection at about 500 feet with a pretty good connection and it passes through some trees to get there. Since my application doesnā€™t require a lot of speed I havenā€™t actually tested the speed. If youā€™re interested I can give you the details. It runs a 640x480 video stream at about 10 - 15 FPS.

I donā€™t think you could run Easel across the connection. For me, Easel in not usable even on my wired connection. (Internet connection is only 1.5Mb DSL).

33

Sorry for the late reply Larry. I am in the process now of building my x-carve. Almost at the wiring stage.
I did a trial with the hot spot feature on my mobile and, since the service reception is good in my garage, the internet speed seems OK - Iā€™ll let you know once I get the first job going. Streaming YouTube is OK so I shouldnā€™t have a problem.

34

Hi,

all in one programs with CAD, CAM and machine controller abilities are very rare.
But for CAM and machine control have a look at Estlcam:

As CAD Iā€™d suggest to have a look at Inkscape for design and art related work and LibreCAD for technical work.

Christian

35

that is a great way to corrupt your signal as a tech go get a pair of piers and a little bit of wood or anything to fit in the gap to push down on the built in clamp in the rj45 plug.

36

You completely lost me here. What do you mean. I have a ethernet jumper plugged into a rj45 jack wired to cat 6 in the house. The cat 6 runs out to the shop and another rj45 jack and another jumper to a router then to my computer and internet radio in the shop. It has been working with no problems for over 4 years now so how is this a problem.

I DO NOT run any CNC machines off the net.

Dave
Ariel, WA

37

I so wish I was as smart as you

38

i use drufel cnc it will do most eveything for 2d and v carve type work from cad to simple cam. it has a one time purchase fee and great support for tool changers macine setup wizards and doesnt kick back theso so cam code easel puts out. but i also have the wait ten seconds for it to catch up and make me wait again problem with eaSEL