There is one new approach to Freecad now.
https://youtu.be/M5KOgtk9VfI<https://youtu.be/M5KOgtk9VfI?is=qB7Ro3fp6dJZkh85> I haven't tried this yet myself, but I'm going to suggest it to cad-adverse friends and family who have cnc machines gathering dust because they can't get a handle on either cad or cam. --Ralph -- Ralph ________________________________ From: maurice e heskett <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 06 October 2026 01:15:42 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Free CAM CAUTION: This email originated from outside the Walla Walla University email system. On 9/30/26 22:34, Ryan McIntosh wrote: > Fusion360 runs just fine under WINE on linux. OpenSCAD will create > whatever level of part complexity you can mathematically describe. If you > have a part with many b-splines or freeform curves, yes, you will spend a > long time describing them. However, the mathematical precision with which > you must think about your part can make the production of CAM files or > meshes much simpler and/or with less "stepping" It is worth mentioning > that FreeCAD exports to OpenSCAD natively. Should you want to produce a > part on an older Fanuc, for example, you may have difficulties with larger > meshes. > > > *Ryan McIntosh* > E4F Designs > (204)770-3682 > [email protected] Its likely good to know that fusion360 can do that. But the last time I read the TOS and license I got a bad after-taste. Back to openscad for printed designs, or writing my own gcode. Freecad to me has way too vertical a learning curve, where openscad is a piece of cake. > On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 4:04 PM Chris Albertson <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> My test to see if a CAD/CAM system is usable is to try to make a Milwaukee >> battery-powered drill housing. Note that the drill on the outside has >> no flat parallel surfaces, as it is all compound curves and freeform. >> Except there is bilateral symmetry and, in some places, radial symmetry. >> Then, if you look on the inside, it is very geometric and has places for >> mechanical gears and PCB mounting holes, threaded blind holes, and is very >> “mechanical.” A good CAD system should allow you to design something like >> a drill or a car that is both mechanical and a sculpted shape. >> >> FreeCAD is open source and passed the above test. Autodesk’s Fusion 360 >> is free to use and has a better user interface and is faster to use. Both >> have a CAM systems. FreeCAD’s CAM is really only 2.5D and basically >> works. Autodesk Fusion’s CAM is 100% professional quality, but the free >> version is limited. You need a paid license for 5-axis support. Both >> work well for making 3D-printed parts with very complex part shapes up to >> and including motorcycle engines and similar. >> >> About Gene’s comment: I can’t understand how someone with good mechanical >> skill can not learn either of these two CAD systems. OK, Fusion 360 is >> easier. But anyone reading this should be able to do basic work after a >> week or two of study and after 6 weeks, make complex parts like the >> Milwaukee drill. >> >> About OpenSCAD, I challenge anyone to make a Milwaukee battery drill in >> OpenSCAD. Or a car or a motorcycle engine. It is, however, good for any >> shape that can be described by an algorithm; gears are a good example. >> >> Summary: if making complex parts and wanting a free CAD/CAM system, use >> Fusion 360. If it must also be open source, use FreeCAD. >> >> Your operating system might help you decide. Fusion 360 runs only on >> macOS and Windows. FreeCAD runs on these but also runs on Linux. >> Fusion360 can run on Linux if you run a virtual machine with Windows. >> On Sep 30, 2026, at 8:14 AM, maurice e heskett <[email protected]> >> wrote: >>> On 9/30/26 09:41, andy pugh wrote: >>>>> Agreed.. Off topic, is there a CAM that's both open src and free? >>>> FreeCAD? >>>> >>>> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmVz2p_ze3yc&data=05%7C02%7Cralph.stirling%40wallawalla.edu%7C0fc30d9d29794dc99f1a08df23821686%7Cd958f048e43142779c8debfb75e7aa64%7C0%7C0%7C639268713791594526%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=UUwu0enQj8BPX0VsrXXj5m1OeiFzEcrWEqlGZ9KmrFc%3D&reserved=0<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVz2p_ze3yc> >>> A near vertical learning curve for my aging wet ram. I've made probably >> 20 passes at it, haven't gotten past the 1st page of examples w/o gaining >> any real insight as to how it works. Openscad is a piece of tasty cake. The >> link above gave me a prostate commercial I had to sit thru, but got bored >> after about 2 minutes and killed FF. Never saw the freecad demo. went >> back again, 'skip"ped about 3 commercials, then got lost in the speakers >> accent. As Winston Churchill once said, 2 great countries separated by a >> common language... The chances I'd get anything out of that are quite slim. >>> Thanks, Gene >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Emc-users mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.sourceforge.net%2Flists%2Flistinfo%2Femc-users&data=05%7C02%7Cralph.stirling%40wallawalla.edu%7C0fc30d9d29794dc99f1a08df23821686%7Cd958f048e43142779c8debfb75e7aa64%7C0%7C0%7C639268713791628946%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cpFFm947jkmxebP7VEKJLxII39JoMcAx%2FoAVH4ILfNs%3D&reserved=0<https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users> >> ___________________________________________ >> Emc-users mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.sourceforge.net%2Flists%2Flistinfo%2Femc-users&data=05%7C02%7Cralph.stirling%40wallawalla.edu%7C0fc30d9d29794dc99f1a08df23821686%7Cd958f048e43142779c8debfb75e7aa64%7C0%7C0%7C639268713791656855%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SlFoZGgj4hlhesw06CLZYjYPbP4UTYUqczQs%2FIwidGs%3D&reserved=0<https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users> >> > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.sourceforge.net%2Flists%2Flistinfo%2Femc-users&data=05%7C02%7Cralph.stirling%40wallawalla.edu%7C0fc30d9d29794dc99f1a08df23821686%7Cd958f048e43142779c8debfb75e7aa64%7C0%7C0%7C639268713791682159%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5p7ZqC8IgipIjTP46jN18tocS5%2FC0ETfGJq%2BrTcN6PQ%3D&reserved=0<https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users> _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.sourceforge.net%2Flists%2Flistinfo%2Femc-users&data=05%7C02%7Cralph.stirling%40wallawalla.edu%7C0fc30d9d29794dc99f1a08df23821686%7Cd958f048e43142779c8debfb75e7aa64%7C0%7C0%7C639268713791707431%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BN9yePLHRf2X8TtRqkKa4cDfluzbcnktvqJwCuFFKoQ%3D&reserved=0<https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users> _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
