here's a nice link I found while downloading models of octopus
( permalink http://thingiverse-production.s3.ama.../fb/02/4b/b4/L[1_display_large.jpg )
it's meant more for oddball 3d things but it does list a couple cheap programs out there...
If it's just for personal amusement, you might be best off just finding a cracked version to use. Yes there's some ethical quandaries with that, but if you're just using it to teach yourself how to model, and goof around, personally, I'm okay with it. If you're going to produce anything, then I'd say buy the program.
Pretty much everyone I talk to says that Autodesk purposefully makes their programs easy to crack - you get it out there enough and it becomes a standard. Granted, most everyone you'll talk to here uses Solidworks. As as student, I'm using inventor (also for farting around) as Autodesk gives students 3 year licenses to any of their programs.
here's a nice link I found while downloading models of octopus
( permalink http://thingiverse-production.s3.ama.../fb/02/4b/b4/L[1_display_large.jpg )
it's meant more for oddball 3d things but it does list a couple cheap programs out there...
anyone here ever use volumill? we are thinking about getting a license for an NX volumill module
it looks amazing
ABET accredited level II machinist - CNC Programmer - Mechanical Engineering Technologist
Rio Grande Inc.
That flowchart is exceptionally helpful. Thanks!
glad to hear its as good as I am seeing in their videos
I can get the NX toolpaths approximately 90% of the way towards a volumill "style" toolpath using trachoidal combined with direct stepover (only in certain instances)
but there are things that I see volumill doing that I really wish NX had from the get go
like how it forces the tool to stay down and rapid to the next engage BEHIND the previous toolpath (to avoid crashing into uncut material) something that NX cannot recognize if you turn on direct engages
also how it will start at the lowest cut level and look upward to finish uncut faces, which is something I have to do manually essentially in multiple separate operations using an in process workpiece
those few features alone make it worth it IMO
ABET accredited level II machinist - CNC Programmer - Mechanical Engineering Technologist
Rio Grande Inc.