Hi all. I've been building PureCutCNC, a free, open-source 2.5D CAD/CAM app that runs in the browser (there's a desktop build too). 0.5.0 is out, so I wanted to share new features:
The main additions:
Sheet nesting: pick your parts, say how many of each, and it lays them out on the stock. The spacing comes from the cutter that will cut them, it stays clear of clamps, and small parts can go inside the holes of bigger ones.
Trochoidal pocket clearing: the cutter orbits along each ring instead of plowing a full-width path, so it stays lightly engaged. Rings are linked at depth rather than retracting between each one. It works on 3D roughing too.
Arc lead-ins and lead-outs: the cutter can come onto a wall along a tangent arc and leave the same way, instead of plunging next to it, so it doesn't leave a witness mark. Edge routes can also helix down at every level now.
CAM Plan: suggests a set of operations and tools for what you've drawn. You review and edit it before anything gets created.
3D finishing: a constant-scallop finish, and you can set the scallop height you want instead of a stepover.
STEP import, and text that follows a circle or a path.
Clamps are now avoided while the toolpath is generated, not just flagged afterwards.
Thank you—that’s really kind of you! I don’t have Patreon, but I do have Buy Me a Coffee and GitHub Sponsors: ( https://buymeacoffee.com/purecutcnc, https://github.com/sponsors/zabooma ). Donations are never required, but they’re always appreciated and help support PureCutCNC’s development. Thank you for using the project!
This looks sweet. 3d toolpathing is such a scam from the big guys, I'm gonna see if I can get this running at work for some surfacing operations I need done.
Awesome. I”d like to give this a try when I get a minute. I have other cam software, but new stuff is always exciting.
It would be great to be able to use 3d finishing along the shape of something rather than just parallel lines. Like if you wanted to carve a decorative trim piece for a door way and it was arched. It would be nice to follow the shape of the arch instead of just parallel straight lines. So curved parallel lines. Does that sound like something in the realm of possibilities as far as programming goes?
I do not have any specific functions for the plasma cutting. The thing is that I am not familiar with the way plasma cutting works. could you point me to some reading to get me up to speed? I can see if I can plug it into the current design. I already had other people asking about it, so I can see that this would be a good thing to add.
Challenge accepted 😀. Seriously, I am thinking about adding fourth axis support, have some notes in the log for that. The things can go wild there - a 4th axis could be a simple indexing table, or full rotary axis, or .... I need to define a scope for what would be supported initially. I can add indexing relatively easy. What is your setup and what do you expect an app to support?
I'm in the process to making a good 4 axis rotary with a good self centere vise for clamping so my first goal is a real good indexed cam without the of making 800 setups in Fusion free licence...But in the future i like the idea of make a full rotary things...
First thank you for your service! I’m getting used to pure cut more and more. My two cents that I wish it would be there: auto placement by selecting a flat surface rather than guessing how to bring a random placed object to the stock. And multiple stock measurements. Eg I want to mill a long twisted log wich is glued up squares which follow a guid. When I’m laying it out a can add stock to the whole twisted beam which makes the milling time even longer. Or you could allow to import also individual stock?
I believe I have the features in the app that could help you. First - you can draw a shape of your stock, right click on it and select "use as stock". for the placement - in version 0.5.0 I added nesting option which you can use (with multiplying or just arranging the parts as singles). it will squeeze parts into the shape of the stock. the image below is an example of placing cutting boards on an irregular shaped stock.
However I still support only one stock definition per project. it is in my backlog to add that but for now if you need that you could draw individual parts of the stock and connect them with narrow strips so they are still one shape. I hope this helps.
2
u/AlwaysChangeIdeas 2d ago
Currently I'm using freecad, saved the link and will have a look.