If you use a Router you should have a Router version of CAM with Nesting, Engraving, Inlay, Raster to Vector, DXF Batch Import, joint fillets, doors and hinges macro and others common woodworking operations.Īnd remember if you want play CAD CAM and you are not a pirate you must spend some money because unfortunately, the free software is not very productive.

In the other hand we have Vectric Aspire for the woodworking art 1500$ with a lot of tutorials around the web, for cabinets try Cabinet Vision. The most convenient CAD CAM in terms of money is ZW3D 2015 Lite (only 2.5 ops.), it has very nice CAD interface and a potent CAM for 'less than 1000$'. Imho HSM is one of the best options but is not a standalone program, it is integrated in Inventor or in SW. This method relies on Locating Holes to find the point X0 Y0 after the stock has been re-positioned.I also use Mastercam a lot but a novice needs a program with an intuitive interface that he can learn by his own. (Shortly after finishing MkII, I realised that the plywood is no good and remade it out of metal :-) Unfortunately some of the parts (supports running along the Y axis) were longer than the working area of the router so it was time to get creative. Basically I made the first version out of plywood using hand tools, then I used it to cut out all the pieces again with more accuracy. I've come up with this method while I was making my own DIY CNC router MkII. OK, I know that it's still better to have a large CNC router rather than using this method, but larger machines tend to be quite pricey and take up more space. Well, now you don't need one! I will show you how you can use your CNC router to cut pieces longer that it's working area.

Do you sometimes wish you had a bigger CNC router, to be able to cut larger parts?

Freecad cnc router