Would second @xchrisd - unless Luban will at some point have an evolution leap, you will quickly reach the limits of this simple software. Going for a more capable CAM solution will always include a learning curve. I love and hate Fusion 360 - it is very capable, but to me is unbelievably unintuitive to use, but I’ve not found anything better yet… Would be my recommendation also (with gritted teeth ).
Since we’re somewhat on the topic of CAD/CAM-software-for-newbs, anyone have any thoughts on the toolpaths generated by FreeCAD?
And is Fusion recommended over MeshCAM purely because of the price?
I ask because, for me, these cloud-based software versions (OnShape, Fusion, Solidworks) are a no-go. As they are for anyone who is limited to satellite internet: the latency is bad enough, but the bandwidth caps were set back in 2006 and never increased to accomodate the modern internet.
So in that context, MeshCAM is a whole lot cheaper than standalone versions of Fusion or Solidworks (OnShape doesn’t even offer one).
FreeCAD ist admittedly something I yet have to try - my first dabblings left me frustrated, but thats a few years back, I guess the program will have eveolved. Fusion360 is free for personal use. How much it needs in terms of bandwith I do not know, but my understanding is that the software runs locally and only needs the cloud for login, license check and storage.
I know what you mean about FreeCAD - even two years ago, I dismissed it as being pretty immature. Revisiting it this year, I am pretty impressed.
That is good to know about Fusion - I created an account and will try to find a way to cron a download for the off-peak hours.
EDIT: Fusion is definitely a no-go. Sucked up 10GB of bandwidth doing the install and firing it up a couple of times to see how it works offline (seems to work OK, once loaded). The on-disk size appears to be only a few hundred megs, so to be using that much bandwidth it must be downloading the app from the server each time. Anyways that’s 20% of my monthly bandwith gone
Thanks for the information, guys! I looked at the demo Fusion 360, seems OK to me, but like was said, quite a complex software to operate!
I have a friend, who is using the free desktop version Vectric Vcarve Desktop. It seems quite easy to use to build 2D shapes, tool paths for CNC. I would probably not use it much to design 3D models.
CORRECTION: The export to CNC, only works with their test models, so not free!
For the 3D models, I became quite efficient with the free Tinkercad and build close to a hundred models that I printed on my old Anet A8.
I know it would be better for me to learn something more complete like Fusion 360, but I have too many projects and limited time to add a big learning curve.
I will give a go to Vectric and maybe later to Fusion 360.
Is that the model you’re actually bringing into Luban?
If so that’s probably not helping. CNC is subtractive. You need a model of how you want the finished piece to be. The cam software will figure out the proper toolpaths according to your bit sizes.
For luban you want to export an stl from tinkercad of what you want the finished piece to look like.
So take your elements you have and just make them holes in a large rectangle.
Then Luban will account for tool size automatically.
That’s not what I meant.
You need to create a rectangle the size of your workpiece (material) and then use the hole function on the shapes that you have
I did that in Vcarve Desktop with path. The inside hole was a pocket, with the tool cutting inside the line. The 2 holes for screws, where in simple drill tool path. It worked perfectly on Artisan in a wood test.
With Luban, nothing resemble this and with this method, it cut on the outside of the STL, I have no control on what it does.
If you have any other ideas for me to try, please do.
But it really doesn’t matter. Luban is a really terrible CAM program so even if you figure out how get it working at its best, its still going to be awful. The toolpaths are terrible and only do parallel. The previews are awful too.
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