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GCode with Onshape
ProApe
Member Posts: 89 ✭
Hello,
Is it possible to create Gcode for milling in 3d with the free version of Onshape?
If not, what is the best way to create GCode from an exported .stl?
Kind regards
ProApe
0
Comments
CAM Studio is available with Onshape Professional or Enterprise
Currently using CAM Studio is afaik not possible with the free version.
There is Kiri:Moto which is open source and available as online Onshape "plugin".
Or you can use an external CAM program. Some accept (and benefit from) STEP, which is better particularly for round shapes as it is not triangulated like STL. Free and Open Source CAM software is the CAM workbench in FreeCAD, free for non-commercial use is Fusion 360, low price non-commercial is e.g. NC Shop Floor Programmer and SolidCAM for SolidWorks for Makers, then some still low(er) cost ones like MeshCam, VCarve, DeskProto and CondaCam (ordered by capabilities and price…). And then more expensive Pro-CAMs that do not make much sense for most hobbyists.
Or just hope that Onshape releases CAM Studio (at least for the usual hobby mills) for the free version, so people don't migrate away for CAM purposes.
If your project is not too complex, then you can generate it with the Camel custom feature by @jeff_brown304
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Carveco Maker, not free but is only 15 USD a month on subscription.
https://carveco.com/carveco-software-range/carveco-maker/
Kiri:Moto generates code for 3d printing, not for milling.
I suppose that in Freecad and Fusion360 you can't open an Onshape document and generate the code?
15 $ a month is to expensive because I mill rarely in 3d.
How can I use this Camel custom feature?
Kiri:Moto: "A Browser-Based Slicer for 3D FDM and SLA printing, CNC Milling, and Laser cutting" ⇒ It can do both.
Onshape afaik doesn't offer the option to save "Onshape documents" locally. One can just export parts and assemblies in various formats, including STEP and STL. And dedicated CNC programs can import those. So yes, you can mill Onshape geometry in external CAM programs. But the CNC program doesn't know anything about Onshape features and history etc., just geometry. So when a part changes one most likely will have to reimport it and redo the CNC programming. Some CNC programs have the option to update imported geometry and transfer toolpaths as good as possible. But these are afaik heuristics, so the result can depend on what was changed.