Software for Arcdroid and 3D printing

General Discussion
1

I have had my ArcDroid for several years but have only cut with the simple trace. Now ready to learn some software. I bought QCAD last year but have never messed with it. I also want a 3D printer so looking for one software that would work on both? I don’t guess qCAD will work for 3d?

2

I’ve never used qcad so can’t comment on its capabilities.

I use the free version of Fusion360 and happily use it for 3D printing designs as well as plasma cutting designs. You can also do clay-style modeling and sheet metal design. All free for not-for-profit use.

3

QCad pro does work in 3d and has software to out for CAM. I don’t however know if it will work on a 3d printer

4

I guess I will learn Fusion 360 and use for both.

5

Hi LittlebossDWH,

Fusion360 is a great piece of software. A few tutorials online and you can start learning on your own. The free version however has a limited number of individual designs you can work with at any given time. For me that was a real pain having to keep most files offline. I started to pay monthly for a short time but it was $75 a month. I moved to Solidworks xDesign and it is very comparable in usability and functionality. The cost is much lower per month for the cloud or browser based app. I will say that being browser based, or no installation required, it can get slow and at times just “bug out” and you have to reopen it. I can’t say I have lost any files or work that I did but it is annoying.

Jim

6

Thanks. So after a certain number of files, I have to download some to make room for new ones?

7

No. You get 10 “editable” files at a time. It is one-click to mark a file editable/non-editable. so you edit a project, finish it, mark it “not editable”, start next project. If you find you need to make a change, open it, mark “editable”, make all your changes, mark “non-editable”. It all stays in the cloud and is all in your work “catalog” for opening, selecting, editing, etc.

I’ve never found the limit restricting. But I’m a simple man with simple projects.

8

Thanks for the reply

9

Ive been using Fusion 360 free, it gives 10 editable parts at any one time. I have a large number of files and dont find it restrictive. When you need to create new you just change one of the existing parts to non-editable parts. Only problem is the free version wont allow you to do this offline. However, I really only use fusion for the conversion of DXF files to create G-code, drawings I create in Draftsight, save as a dxf, import into fusion then create the cutting file for the Droid. Sounds like a long process but it isn’t.

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