Design Workflows

I. Concept "I have something I want to design"[edit]

No one can help you decide what to make, but this article can show you a couple ways to go about making it.

II. CAD - "2D or 3D?"[edit]

2D/3D CNC - Subtractive Manufacturing

• Shape - If it can be designed with flat pieces.
• Shape - If it can be cut in 3D using the CNC router. (3 axis)
• Size - If it is big.
• Detail - Low resolution
• Construction Material requirements.

3D Printed - Additive Manufacturing

• Shape - design makes it impossible to CNC
• Size - Ususally small things are easier to 3D Print
• Detail - High Detail

And sometimes the answer is both. To design some parts to be CNC cut out, and some parts to be 3D Printed.

Here are some example workflows for each. (note, not all these links work, yet)

• Design-Blender-3D-Print -
• Designspark Mechanical-to-3D-Print -
• Inkscape-2D-LinuxCNC -
• Draftsight-2D-CAMBam-LinuxCNC - Describes how to take designs from Draftsight and use them in CAMBam to make GCODE for LinuxCNC
• Draftsight-2D-OpenSCAD-3D-Print - Describes how to use elements 2D designed in Draftsight and them import them into OpenSCAD to use scripting to make your 3D design.

III. CAM / Slicer "Convert My Design to GCODE"[edit]

• CAMBam-2D-GCODE-CNC - How to use CAMBam to make GCODE for LinuxCNC from DXF.
• MeshCAM-3D-GCODE-CNC - How to use MeshCAM to make GCODE for LinuxCNC 3D-CNC from a STL.
• Cura_Settings_Explained - How to slice your STL into GCODE 3D_Printer_Workflow

IV. Manufacture "3D Print or 2D Cut"[edit]

• 3D_Printer_Workflow - How to take your STL and 3D Print
• Probotix_Fireball_CNC_router - How to take your DXF