Currently awaiting my altmill 4x8 to ship and making sure all my other hardware/software is in place for when it arrives. Currently have a paid subscription to fusion 360 and wanted to try to use that as much as possible before committing to another software, but im open to the idea if people think its worth it. Ill primarily be cutting cabinets with my machine to start but of course will want to play with carving features as my wife is an artist.
I just read a post about Millmage?, and I know the standard is Vcarve pro. Hoping to hear what some others in my shoes are doing!
I did a bunch of cabinets and drawers with Fusion (free version) … worked ok but there are some quirks and it has (at least for me) a steep learning curve.
I have been using Fusion for my LongMill for several years now, and it’s really quite capable (as you know) - except it can be weak with things like relief carving if they are too complicated.
I’m sure someone else can chime in about their preferred software for artistic carving and reliefs - MillMage looks really neat in that domain, especially the Pro version (when it is released).
For cabinets, I think Fusion might be pretty hard to beat, given you have a subscription already. Down the road, who knows? I look forward to seeing what you discover.
Ive yet to dabble in any of the CAM stuff for fusion but know its able to do Grbhal so I’ve had my hopes high I can stay in 1 ecosystem for now, and just run fusion + gsender. I’m proficient in CAD and my post CAD experience in manf is limited to just 3D printing but from what I’ve gathered from videos its very similar processes, just different software.
My only draw back is the subcription to Millmage, I way prefer owning software but if its worth it or only option (Fusion has proven this to me) then Im willing absorb these subscriptions within the business expenses of a cabinet shop. Curious to see how MillMage plays out!
@EDC Off topic but if you’re going to use your Altmill for cabinet work, put in some thought on work holding. Keeping your sheet stock flat is necessary for some milling steps (e.g. dadoes) and not always easy to do with sheet goods that have a bend in both directions.
Funny enough im familiar this concept and playing in my head how ill approach it. At first ill most likely screw down in dedicated waste zones, but im also thinking long term about idea of milling my own vac grid waste board and setting up a full sheet vac system with a proper pump to back it.
And I only use high grade ply/mdf from a sheet goods distributor to help mitigate this problem but know its always there. I never use box store sheet goods (unless maybe drywall haha!). We live in a semi remote area and the local lumber yard has very good good selection, plus if I travel 1.5 hr to the coast theres proper hardwood and sheet good distros. Thats where I get my exotics, pre finished, etc.
The nice thing about Fusion is that the step from CAD to CAM is pretty smooth - definitely a learning curve, but it’s really great to be able to generate toolpaths right from the same tool you are doing the design work with.
Just a side note:
If, in the future, you decide that the Fusion subscription is not worth it, be aware that the CAM section of Fusion looses a bunch of important functions. The most obvious is that you loose rapid movements. You also loose some parts of the ‘Arrange’ function and tool changing will probably not work. There are likely more things that are not present or limited.
The CAD side of things seems to only limit the number of open documents when you drop your subscription. That has not been an issue for me.
Awesome! Fusion sounds like the answer for now. I doubt ill drop the subscription soon as I just started it for business purposes. If something comes along that can replace it for a 1 time fee however then I may be interested in going that route.
If you are using it for business then the subscription is well worth it. Heck, just the fact that you have rapid movements is worth the subscription. Subscriptions come on sale two or three times a year at up to 25% off.
No one seems to have mentioned Vectric software. There are a full range of Vectric platforms and the construction and carving self created stuff is the specific realm of Aspire: the top level. However if your wife draws you may also want to try out Easy Create, an online image-to-carving software by Vectric. It is really neat: https://easycreate.vectric.com/
BTW. All levels of Vectric use the same tools you just get more of them as your skill increases. Also, moving from lower to higher level you only pay the difference in retail cost , like the software use skills you develop, they early version and costs are never lost.
@ArtPetch The OP mentions vCarve in his post but is looking for alternatives. User @Jenn posted on this forum about their own software called RapidCAM, so that is another option to look at.