Easel / VCarve Pro / Fusion 360 | Onefinity CNC Woodworking

[@SothpawDesigns]

Next, learn to use VCarve Pro to design your first projects. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5WtmXyVidJpZ7s Please note a couple of clarifications that a viewer pointed out, that I thought were important to share. - VCarve is not available for Mac. - Fusion 360 does have a free maker/hobbyist version that is Mac compatible. Two very good points that were not discussed.

[@Hangs4Fun]

Would have loved to see Carveco included here (when you were showing the pricing on the OneFinity site, 2 versions of Carveco were right there). I know you said you hadn't done anything with it, so I get it. Thanks for comparing the 3 you did though :-)

[@SothpawDesigns]

@@Hangs4Fun Thanks.You'd think I'd have checked out Carveco, being Onefinity's software, I had just never looked into it. Thanks for the comment.

[@bobswihart]

When I first got my 1F I tried Easel, Fusion and Carbide Create because they were free. I did the same as you and decided to get VCarve Pro after I learned what I wanted out of a program. Great overview and comparison video. Thank you again.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Appreciate it!!

[@robertkrueger3902]

I Enjoyed this explanation of the three ways to design for your cnc. I am brand new to cnc and I went with the Vectric V Carve pro, It like you said is versatile enough for wood cnc and the interface is not too bad to pick up as I plod my way through my journey. Thank you for the videos I enjoy your content.

[@SothpawDesigns]

I appreciate that!

[@wcmeyer6846]

one of the best comparisons I've seen. Thanks.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Wow, thanks! That means a lot.

[@TheRealMotoNut]

I’m new to CNC routers (haven’t even bought mine yet) but I also plan to do 3D printing and some CNC machining so I definitely am on the Fusion 360 team. I don’t want to use multiple softwares if I can be proficient in one that can do all processes.

[@nikkishins]

I'm curious how you have found Fusion for CNC machining. I'm in a similar boat as I am cncing and 3d printing different parts for the same projects. Much more efficient to simply model everything in Fusion, then break off components for machining or printing as needed. I Love the modelling aspect of Fusion, I've taken to the parametric nature of it very well. but the machining has proven to be more complicated and less efficient than carveco, which I was using before. It was simple to tell carvco exactly what I wanted to do and how to do it. Fusion's toolpathing seems VERY strange sometimes, and not nearly as straightforward to set up. I don't want to have to model in Fusion, then remake the entire thing in a CNC program, it's such a time sink. But I'm also not have very good luck quickly popping out good gcode straight from fusion. Anyway, like I said I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on your experience with fusion

[@JoeSespn]

Thank you for this review. Overall I think everything you said makes sense. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and starting with Fusion because I would hate to be limited in what I could do. Having said that, many "prosumer" users I have seen in these spaces (including yourself) who just haven't really run into those limits in reality. My thinking is that I have to take the time to learn one of them, it might as well be the one that could scale to any height like Fusion. I am already familiar with Visio and the like for work, so maybe that will help me. On the other hand it may be overkill, but either way thank you for the reviews.

[@garyhunt2270]

First off, I enjoyed the video. There was quite a bit of great information. I wanted to clarify a couple points, however. First, V-Carve is not available on the Mac platform. It's PC only. Second, Fusion 360 does have a free, fully functional, maker/hobbyist version. ...and it is completely Mac compatible.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Good to know. Thanks

[@jaggedcliff]

I enjoy watching your videos, they provide food for thought.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Thank you for the support

[@SamA-jg8vy]

Great video.. but just an FYI.. you can draw curved lines in Easel.. you use the pen tool and after you've created your shape, you choose the 'curves' option.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Thanks for the info!

[@christianzubieta7059]

Thank you for this video, I am waiting for my x-carve cnc desktop and I never use one. this video help me to learned between software

[@SothpawDesigns]

Great to hear! I’ve never regretted my investment. I love what I can do with it

[@ShaunSchmidt-xb9fy]

Easel can apply curves to shapes created by the line tool....just double click on one of the edge nodes and a dialog box offering to curve the join will come up...

[@bryanproskiw5554]

Excellent video professor

[@philprowse8434]

I’m not trying to come across wrong, but I have to ask if you have any experience using Easel? I’m just asking because I’m still fairly new to the CNC and am using Easel. But me being new to Easel need to point something out. Where you said you can’t edit the shapes and make curves? If you look at the shape tab at the very bottom right under where it says lock object, you’ll see where it says “Edit Points.” That lets you create curves from those points. And you stumbled across the combine function as you were using the software. I’m just saying, you’re comparing software but you don’t seem to have used Easel. And let me say, I’m by no means defending Easel, and agree with you 100% on the web platform software, I despise it. But, I’d recommend people who are just starting with CNC use the trial, and the free version of Easel until you learn more about how the CNC actually works with the settings. It’s by far the easiest of any platform to use so far, and I’m pretty tech savvy. I was in no way trying to offend you, just those facts and pointing out the simplicity of using Easel. I have looked into VCarve Pro, and may change to using that later. But there are way more steps required to get to a carving point. But that’s the power of better software once you start understanding CNC language.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Good points

[@b.j.s4564]

Great comparison Thank you

[@SothpawDesigns]

Thank you

[@Bart_Depestele]

Thank you

[@SothpawDesigns]

You're welcome

[@StevePotter]

Great review, I agree with all you said. I love VcarvePro. I note that although you can't design complex 3D shapes de novo, VcarvePro is great for importing and carving existing models, and for combining shapes to make something quite complex. It is WAY better than F360 at handling text as part of your 3D design.

[@SothpawDesigns]

I wondered about importing 3D work. I hadn’t tried that yet. Good to know. Regarding the text, I agree.

[@professorstevepotter]

I have created some creative 3D shapes in VcarvePro using their molding toolpath. For example, the oval dish described at the end of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKXGfoOjer52o9k

[@Chris-vc1dh]

Just learning first time cnc on Easel, how do i tell machine to curve exactly where i want on wood?

[@SothpawDesigns]

G code is created which is sent to your CNC.

[@davejsullivan]

You should check out Carveco too. I love it.

[@SothpawDesigns]

I've heard a few people say that. I'll give it a try.

[@momof4grownkids528]

Good video. I have used Easel for a few weeks and you can add curves to shapes. The option is on the Shapes panel where you can set size, angles, etc.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Yeah, I found that tool after I posted this video. I need to post an update

[@okayokay2010]

I love your video sir, but does easel work with any desktop cnc machine? Thanks

[@SothpawDesigns]

It should, because you simply use Easel to design your work and create your toolpaths, then download and plug into your CNC. Of course you'll want to test it out first, but I can't see why it wouldn't work on all CNCs.

[@okayokay2010]

@@SothpawDesigns thanks

[@Checkitfirst]

Can you help me. I’m using easel because it is an all in one software meaning I can design and cut directly from easel. Does vcarve desktop have the same feature or do I have to use a separate code sender like usg

[@SothpawDesigns]

V Carve will generate and export the g code, but I always copy it to a USB Drive to plug into my CNC.

[@Checkitfirst]

@@SothpawDesigns My machine is hooked up directly to the computer. So I can do everything from vcarve desktop. ? I do not have to send it to usg or anything else like that?

[@wyattmartin7413]

I have some automotive badges that I have been 3D printing but I have bought a CNC router and I want to make them out of aluminum. I have a 3d model that I made from fusion 360. But the model is very simple no really 3D features. Which software do you suggest?

[@SothpawDesigns]

I don’t really do any 3D, so I prefer VCarve

[@badbitbucket]

Can I import an svg cribbage layout and convert the holes to drill with any of this software? Easel wants to CUT the holes which takes 3 years to drill 500 holes

[@SothpawDesigns]

I would assume that you can, as I've seen cribbage boards made on youtube videos, but never having done it myself, I don't want to confirm it. I'd recommend finding a cribbage board video and asking that creator.

[@AntonKhrapov]

You do realize Fusion360 for hobbyists is free, right? It's got a bit of a limitation in CAM but nothing too prohibitive.

[@beverlyjackson7976]

Which one finite do you have.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Onefinity Woodworker x50. I've upgraded to the Elite, but am waiting on delivery.

[@gbalock]

Nice comparison. Two questions. Does onefinity support a fifth axis? Does VCarve work on a MacBook?

[@SothpawDesigns]

VCarve doesn’t work on a MacBook. Another person pointed that out. Not sure about the 5th axis.

[@gbalock]

@@SothpawDesigns thanks. I guess I’ll have to add the price of a computer to my purchase.

[@Pintosonic]

I’m running Vcarve pro on a Mac using parallel. Basically vcarve runs within windows 11 or windows 11 for arm if you have a Mac silicon machine.

[@smitpadaliya5786]

21:20 great motivation line

[@SothpawDesigns]

thanks

[@liammore4823]

Any of those prices are ridiculous unless you're a company

[@garagehobbies]

Fusion 360 is free for hobby use.

[@CeNuVezi]

I use Vcarve Pro , beter than fusion at 2d work , is far away to text implement , fusion is best to make 3d parts , and makes them ok and easy , other 3d software that is free is freecad , but is a big mess with the way it works , and errors that give , but can be usable if u save all time the file .

[@basilloizou1942]

I use fusion 360 for free because hobby uses don’t get charged

[@greybeardedition]

Anyone use carbide create?

[@SothpawDesigns]

I need to try that out. Never had the chance so far.

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

You gonna teach us about software you don't know how to use?

[@SothpawDesigns]

Thanks for the input. Always getting better.

[@terencegillespie6675]

Oh yeah. Uh huh.

[@The_Unobtainium]

Subscription software SUCKS! Period.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Agreed

[@espressomatic]

Easel looks like an always-free app that comes with a $30 product. Damn, it looks just horrible. IMO, if you're new to design, start with a real app from the start. If you're going to use V-Carve, don't start with Easel. V-Carve is already "design for dummies" level - if you have any experience with design software like Illustrator, it's going to be pretty straight-forward.

[@SothpawDesigns]

Easel is a good program for beginners, but I outgrew it pretty quickly. I do agree that VCarve is easy once you know how to use Illustrator.