I don't think there are many who hand craft gcode anymore, no real reason to, as there are so many good CAM packages now ... I sort of still remember most of it, but can't say I have actually written a line of gcode in the last decade, nor needed to.
Personally, I am using the various Vectric packages (mostly Cut 2D Pro) and it does all I would ever want on a big CNC router and my little mill. I'd like something that did proper 3D roughing and finishing, but it's not something I really do any of, the stuff in Cut2D is enough for almost everything I need, like I said, not hand crafted an gcode in at least a decade, rarely even look at the output to be honest ... just save it and run it. On Wed, 7 Oct 2026 at 07:40, maurice e heskett <[email protected]> wrote: > On 10/6/26 09:18, Ralph Stirling via Emc-users wrote: > > 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 > Where is the mental creativity needed to describe that to the AI? I'd > feel the effort to do that compares in difficulty to learning g-code, > which to me is easier. > > Machines sitting idle is a shame, Ralph. g-code isn't that hard to > write. And then runs anytime you load it. Once, or 50,000 times. I've > been doing it for a couple decades. The back-plotting that axis can do > does a pretty good job of showing you what the g-code you've written is > going to look like. The biggest problem is depth of cut and speeds, > critical for small tools that can be easily broken. It gets a bit obtuse > when there are more than 3 axises as both of my mills can have a 4th. > Being able to visualize and make your own accessories is a plus. > > Unforch, my machines are idle as I'm not there, my kidneys have gone on > strike, so I am now at my sons place about 10 miles away, who is seeing > to it I eat well & gets me to the dialysis place, up at this hour > because my sugar monitor was screaming as I was down to 57, well below > normal. A tiny payday bar and a spoon of ice cream fixed that. A pita. > > Take care of #1 & 2. > > Cheers, Gene > > > > > > > -- 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 <(204)%20770-3682> > >> [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 > > > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
