CNC Software "Suite" Questions -- LINUX based

[John Beroset]

I am looking into establisiing my CNC router software "suite" (CAD/CAM/Control). Although I would prefer a complete software suite operating under LINUX, I may settle for a combination of Windows (XP Pro) and LINUX based software (either dual boot or 2 separate computers). I currently have AutoCAD 2000 (operating on XP Pro) and one option would be to use that as my design system and export the designs using .DXF format.

My "tentative current plan" is to use EMC2 (LINUX) operating on a "stripped down" dedicated LINUX box for CNC Control. The "missing link" right now is a LINUX based 3D CAM system -- or if I can't find a suitable one, I need to find a Windows based CAM program that won't drain my piggy bank!

Cost is definitely a consideration!! :-)

Any guidance/thoughts on this? I would particularly like to hear from those of you who have actual operating experience on this topic.

Thanks,

John Beroset

[paul cottingham]

I know nothing about cad/cam, but a quick search for open source apps yields some results.
http://www.freebyte.com/cad/cadcam.htm
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Cam
Do a search on either freshmeat ( now freecode) http://freecode.com/ or Sourceforge http://sourceforge.net/ . Sorry I can't be more specific.

[Michael Simpson Virgina]

been doing DIY CNC for a while and I can tell you this. You get what you payfor in most cases. I broke away from Linux based controller way back with my first build and went with MACH 3 on a PC. I have used it on very low end XP all the way up to very high end win 7 machines. And yes it even works on Vista. The only restriction is that if you are using a parallel port you need to run 32-bit, as the port driver only works with 32-bit.

On my current setup I run Vectric Cut 2D CAD/CAM software. It has the ability to output diectly to Mach3 without. This is as close to one button CNCing as you can get. For a little more you can upgrade to VCarve Pro and really start doing things. It too, can output directly to Mach3.

[William Adams]

I've tried very hard to get everything possible listed on the ShapeOko wiki: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Software

[Ed Harrall]

I use emc2 and V carve pro with no problems with either. Both have done a great job

[Mike Heidrick]

I use emc2 and V carve pro with no problems with either. Both have done a great job

EMC2 = LinuxCNC since 2011.