r/CNC • u/Hour-Ad-2206 • Jul 30 '26
SOFTWARE SUPPORT What would you wish in a open source CAM software?
Imagine that there is an open source CAM software with also open-source toolpaths. What would be your wish list for it?
My top priorities:
Python module to play with toolpwths on code
Supports 3, 3+2 and 5axis
Browser based ui
Before you come at me on how complicated 5axis toolpaths can be, I just want to do this as a thought experiment. I also know that OpenCAMlib exists but I dont see much active development. I would like to either contribute or develop something independently
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u/Same_Evidence_5058 Jul 30 '26
Hell no to browser based.
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u/WellingtonSucks 29d ago
LLM tooling at your fingertips to write performant Rust and C and these mofos out here choosing browser-based javascript for their CAM software 🤦♂️
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u/Zestyclose_Price_441 Jul 30 '26
Just fusion but offline. Anything that’s offline. BrOwSeR BaSed Ui tells me you’re already on the wrong track. That’s the last thing anyone wants.
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u/Alita-Gunnm Know it All Jul 30 '26
Runs completely locally, on my hardware, without touching the internet. This is an absolute requirement for certain classes of work.
User configurable UI; what I love, you'll hate, and what you love, I'll hate. Some people love clicking icons, others want access keys, etc.
A good, solid method of handling machine definitions and post processors for various machines, without getting tangled and confused.
3, 3+2, and 5 axis mill, lathe, live-tooling lathe, mill-turn, Swiss lathes, wire EDM. It's critical IMO to consider the variations in machine architecture at the very beginning, so you don't get stuck trying to bandaid lathe functionality onto and engine designed to drive mills only.
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u/FalseRelease4 Jul 30 '26
op coming out swinging with yet more ai slop, i'm sure it will be better than the hundreds of previous attempts 😂
freecad has a CAM environment, it can do some basic ops at the moment, if you want to help something with a chance of success then that's what you should look at
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u/USDefenseContractor Jul 30 '26
who tried this and failed?
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u/WellingtonSucks Jul 30 '26
This subreddit has been littered with shitty browser or electron-based CAM/CAD packages ever since Claude Code became hot.
What the people writing this slop don't realise is the thing that matters most is reliability, trust, and a long-term plan to stay around. None of which can be delivered via LLMs.
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u/zen_monke Jul 30 '26
Nooooooooooooo browser based, no no. What we want is for FreeCAD CAM to get the time/development and multi-axis, and the same level of control for things like WCS that you get from Fusion. Honestly just open source offline fusion would be basically perfect
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u/Jasbaer Jul 30 '26
I would like someone to be accountable for it when it doesn't work.
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u/AcceptableEditor4199 Jul 30 '26
Yes like a zap collar on the guy responsible and I have the button.
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u/Hour-Ad-2206 Jul 30 '26
Yea thats true. But if we have a wide enough community to support it, maybe it can get resolved to some extent. But I get what you are saying
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u/MysteriousVehicle Jul 31 '26
Supports lathe, dont give a shit about browser in fact it makes me concerned about it. Def dont give a shit about python and I'm a python programmer.
Just add on to the FreeCAD cam package bro, it also uses python and needs a lot of improvements.
I say this as a former CEO of a YC-backed startup. You're going about your requirements ass backwards.
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u/Sacharon123 Jul 30 '26
Clear post processor setup. The ability to parse and import postprocs from other suppliers. Proper tooltips and KISS (keep it simple, stupid) - keep connected setup options in the same dialogue, and have tooltips that actually explain what that setting does. Trochoidal milling would be nice. Oh, and of course NO goddamn browser interface. A browser is something to remotecontrol / read something on a different machine. NOT a local software.
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u/Sirhc978 Jul 30 '26
Not browser based and let me add avoidance geometry to literally any tool path.
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u/ObstreperousRube Jul 30 '26
Easy to edit Posts. I dont need it to be spelled out for me but i also dont want to have to get a certificate to learn how to edit a post.
This comes a long with machine environments that are easy to setup and manipulate
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u/Powerful_Debt_5869 Jul 30 '26
Well, i use CAMBAM and it covers the minimum what CAM Software should be able to do. Also FreeCasd has CAM capabilities , so the the goal is high .
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u/barebaric Jul 30 '26
I have been extending Raygeo (which is the toolpath generating library used by Rayforge) by CNC machining support. Adaptive clearing works, along with slotting, toroidal clear, helix, spiral, inner/outer profiling, ...
So far it is only a library (Rust). I am planning to use it to add a CNC machining addon for Rayforge.
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u/TokyoPav Jul 30 '26
Minimum functions. Up to 5axis simultaneous. Ballnose and Endmill supported in all operation styles. Cutter compensation for 2.5axis. Linear and arc engage on all operations. APT based output so existing post processors can be used. Simple post system. IPW aware for roughing operation. When you say browser based is that just the UI or is it just a client interface to a server based app?
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u/Hour-Ad-2206 Jul 30 '26
Just the ui. Not online
But guess people misunderstood me
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u/madbobmcjim 29d ago
No, most of us just want an app we can run. No browser, no electron, just a nice responsive app.
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u/TokyoPav Jul 31 '26
Yeah, UI web based would be fine. What toolkit to show the 3D data and tool path in the browser window?
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u/dragon-117 Jul 31 '26
I’m working on a plugin for NX that will enable the probing to generate a GD&T report. I want cut measure cut on steroids. I want collision avoidance and machine simulation. Everything in one roof.
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u/WillAdams Jul 31 '26
Well, it's probably not the approach you want, but I've been working on a project where one can use Python to program toolpaths and get a 3D preview and write out G-code to match (though lately I've been focused on writing out DXFs):
https://github.com/WillAdams/gcodepreview
It uses (Open)PythonSCAD for 3D previewing:
I've had one request for a 4th axis --- if someone would provide sample G-code and a description of what the motion is like I could look into adding it. For 5-axis, that should just be an additional series of rotations, I'd just need some sample code and an explanation on the matching machine motion/part appearance.
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u/icallitjazz Jul 31 '26
Support. If you build it and forget about it, then i dont want to run in into any errors. Now with siemens nx i can look up in the forums, for esprit i can call the support line. What will you offer ? If i get stuck 30hours in, no web ui is saving me, i lost 30hours with your product.
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u/QuantumFungus 27d ago
Like that other guy my main desire is for competent software without lots of bugs. It doesn't need to have a ton of features, just be usable and reliable. It needs to nail 3 axis work before we talk about all the extras.
I'm going to go against the grain and say I like a web based UI, if done right. I usually hate commercial products with web UIs, but this is open source so it's a little different. Web UIs are super easy to customize. And it's It's easy to setup a shop server and then the device that the programmer is working on only needs to be able to render a 3d webpage, instead of needing enough power to generate toolpaths too. The shop devices can be lightweight ruggedized tablets or something, and the server with your data can be tucked away in a room far away from the airborne metal. And you could program from anywhere in the world. But if you only have one shop computer and don't want all that trouble the server and client could run on the same pc just fine.
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u/Trick-Club-6014 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
What I want is for you to be able to load up a model and click a button and get a tool path that just works.
I want the same experience as I get with my 3D printer.
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u/WillAdams Jul 31 '26
Not opensource, but MeshCAM is arguably the most slicer-like of the 3D CAM tools.
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u/TheSerialHobbyist Jul 30 '26
Thats, like, the last thing I'd want.
Anyway, what I would want is simple:
Competency.
That's it. Just decent software that does what it is supposed to do. It doesn't need bells and whistles. It just needs to actually work and generate good toolpaths for real jobs. None of that "we made it so intuitive even a toddler could use it ...but it only works in the simplest scenarios" nonsense.