# What software to design in? **URL:** \ **Category:** CAD/CAM Software Tips\ **Created:** [September 25, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725 "2017-09-25T02:57:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zachariah\_Collom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d9b06d/32.png) [@Zachariah\_Collom](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Zachariah_Collom)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/1 "2017-09-25T02:57:36Z")
I have my maslowcnc set up. I cut all the frame pieces and am now ready to cut some projects. I am a cad user and have designs in different cad programs, Fusion, Draftsight, AutoCad. I use these programs becuase I know them and can make things certain sizes. I guess what I really need a step by step as to how to take a design I have and get it into gCode for ground control. I am not looking nessasarily for a file type converter, I think too much would be lost. But MakerCam is so basic with the shapes, inkscape is only a sheet of paper, easel has a small work spaced my ideas are to be cut from a whole sheet. I guess I am just overwhelmed and this is my first foray into CNC and could really use some guidance. I have a desk design I have sketched out and would like to cut it on my Maslowcnc. Thank you, Zachariah ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/2 "2017-09-25T04:08:08Z")
the first thing to recognize is that design is CAD, and you can use whatever you are comfortable in. CAM is what converts the CAD to the toolpath that the machine needs (resulting in g-code). It’s not a file type converter, you have to do things like tell it what size bit you are using, how deep to make cuts, etc fusion360 includes CAM functionality, so if you have your model in it, you can just use that to create the gcode. > But MakerCam is so basic with the shapes makerCam is designed to take 2d shapes, you shouldn’t use it for creation, just to convert 2d stuff you’ve done in inkscape, easel, or autocad > inkscape is only a sheet of paper, > easel has a small work spaced my ideas are to be cut from a whole sheet. you can set the work area to any size you want, you aren’t limited to the default sizes. > I have a desk design I have sketched out and would like to cut it on my > Maslowcnc. what program do you have it designed in? ---
**Author:** ![mooselake](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/mooselake/32/6218_2.png) [@mooselake](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/mooselake)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/3 "2017-09-25T13:20:16Z")
Fusion360 has built in gcode generation in it’s CAM module. It’s discussed [here](http://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/fusion360-with-maslowcnc/71) ---
**Author:** ![Zachariah\_Collom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d9b06d/32.png) [@Zachariah\_Collom](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Zachariah_Collom)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/4 "2017-09-25T13:56:11Z")
I have drawn it in draftsight and fusion360. ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/5 "2017-09-25T15:52:44Z")
My work flow right now goes like this. 1. Design in OnShape 2. Export a .dxf file of a 2D Drawing of all the parts 3. Convert to .svg file in inkscape (Open, then save, that’s all) 4. Open in MakerCAM and generate Gcode 5. Cut It’s a couple more steps than I’d like it to be. Fusion 360 lets you do it all in one, but I really like designing in OnShape, and I try to use MakerCAM because it’s the CAM program we recomend (and I really do like it, even if it is pretty simple) Welcome, Good Luck, and let us know what questions you run into along the way! ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/6 "2017-09-25T23:37:13Z")
May I suggest that you install the free kiri:moto app, it lets you desig in OnShape and then pick parts from your design and create the g-code for 3d printing, milling, or laser cutting. David Lang ---
**Author:** ![oddcarout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/96bed5/32.png) [@oddcarout](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/oddcarout)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/7 "2017-09-27T00:08:06Z")
Thank you. I am downloading OnShape right now and kiri:moto. Can any of these Gcode generators do different depth cuts from the same drawing. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/8 "2017-09-27T03:12:51Z")
> Thank you. I am downloading OnShape right now and kiri:moto. these aren’t downloads, they run directly in the browser. > Can any of these Gcode generators do different depth cuts from the same drawing. I’m not sure what you mean, OnShape and Fusion360 create a 3D model and then cut that out, so it cuts to whatever depth is appropriate for the model ---
**Author:** ![mooselake](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/mooselake/32/6218_2.png) [@mooselake](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/mooselake)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/9 "2017-09-27T03:17:38Z")
You can vary the cut depths within a project. For example, different depth pockets, variable depth vcarving, and even some 3D. The slow z axis will limit how much true 3D you can do, depending on how patient you are ---
**Author:** ![oddcarout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/96bed5/32.png) [@oddcarout](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/oddcarout)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/10 "2017-09-27T03:26:57Z")
I have signed up for OnShape and will take a look at it tomorrow. as for different depths, I was thinking of cutting out the shape with tabs and then cutting hidden mortises. Was wondering if this can all be done at once. This might be answered when I jump into OnShape. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![oddcarout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/96bed5/32.png) [@oddcarout](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/oddcarout)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/11 "2017-09-27T03:27:56Z")
I am not worried about speed right now. I just want to learn how to CNC what I see in my mind. Thank you for all the help, ---
**Author:** ![oddcarout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/96bed5/32.png) [@oddcarout](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/oddcarout)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/12 "2017-09-28T02:37:17Z")
Probably not the correct place but when I try to open the DXF file in Inkscape it says failed to load requested file. is there a specific way to do this? Thank you ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/13 "2017-09-28T03:18:53Z")
Try using import instead of open, open only works with svg files. ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:55am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/14 "2017-09-28T04:55:11Z")
I’ve had the opposite experience, I’ve found that open works more consistently than import for some reason. The dxf version also has to be R13 or earlier for inkscape to open it. Changing the DXF version is usually an option in the CAD program ---
**Author:** ![oddcarout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/96bed5/32.png) [@oddcarout](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/oddcarout)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/15 "2017-09-29T00:04:36Z")
ok, Now after reinstalling twice, I have it working. I can open in Inkscape. It opens not to scale. does that matter? should I convert it to the proper size? Also, the origin (home) for the Maslow is in the center of the workspace, correct? ---
**Author:** ![oddcarout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/96bed5/32.png) [@oddcarout](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/oddcarout)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/16 "2017-09-29T00:57:27Z")
I have been trying everything under the sun. If I import my dxf into inkscape I can get it to cam. Now I need to work on scaling it correctly. Thank you!!! ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/17 "2017-09-29T17:31:32Z")
The home position of Maslow is in the center, but you can move it anywhere using the “define home” button. The scaling issue is a tough one. This thread has the details of the system which is working for me: [MakerCAM Frustrations](http://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/makercam-frustrations/500/33) The general things to look out for are what the units of the document are -is everything 25 times to big/small? If so that’s an inches-\>mm issue) -is everything just slightly too big/small? If so it’s probably a resolution issue in makerCAM ---
**Author:** ![TheMerryYeoman](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/themerryyeoman/32/8009_2.png) [@TheMerryYeoman](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/TheMerryYeoman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/18 "2018-08-18T04:19:46Z")
Might some refer to it as a 2.5d? If not, what is 2.5d? ---
**Author:** ![jwolter](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jwolter/32/30787_2.png) [@jwolter](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/jwolter)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/what-software-to-design-in/725/19 "2018-09-09T01:58:04Z")
I’m not sure if there is a precise definition of 2.5D, but the gist is that it is somewhere between 2D and 3D. In the case of the Maslow, the fact that the z-axis has a very limited range, combined with the fact that the sled needs a surface to ride on means that you can’t do a full 3D. You’re not going to render a replica Mt. Rushmore from a block of maple with a Maslow.