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When it comes to CNC routing software, there are many options out there. They range from free to paid, simple to complex, and each has pros and cons. But what is CNC router software and why is it important?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at:
We’ll also share some of our favorite programs for different uses, and help you find the right software for you.
To fully understand why you need software for a CNC router, you need to know that CNCs work in stages. The controller receives input from the computer, translates it into usable instructions, and relays it to the CNC’s working components.
CNC router software is what you use to create designs that you want to develop with your CNC machine. Once you program your design into the software, it turns it into a code called geometric code or G-code.
G-code is the only language that most CNC routers understand, so this is a fundamental step when it comes to realizing your woodworking dreams. Additionally, CNC software is essential for the design process. Among other things it:
As you can see, this relatively minor part of the woodworking process has major effects. It’s essential to find the best CNC router software for your business.
While you might find software that covers everything from design to implementation, most CNC software programs cover a specific aspect.
The main types of CNC software include:
CAD and CAM are the two software choices most commonly used by CNC machinists. The main difference between them is that one is used for design, while the other is used for manufacture.
Computer-aided design software allows the user to design intricate models of the item they want to create. While crossover-type programs exist, CAD software typically only has design capabilities.
Computer-aided manufacturing programs, on the other hand, allow the user to control the manufacturing machine. Using CAM software allows you to input the cutting tool, cutting path, and other manufacturing-specific details.
CNC machines communicate with computer software using something called geometric code, or G-code for short. G-code is the only “language” that these machines understand, and every design needs to be converted into this code.
G-code sender software specializes in sending, and sometimes editing geometric code. These programs allow you to take the code you’ve designed using CAD and CAM software and send it to your CNC machine.
CNC control software, as the name implies, allows you to interact with your CNC machine. It can send G-code and covers other interactions as well. This type of software is a viable replacement for G-code sender software.’
CNC simulation software can be a useful addition to the machinist’s toolbox. It allows you to “test” your cuts digitally so that you can “see” how each cut will go. If, for instance, you made a mistake on one of the long cuts, you’ll be able to see this on the simulator.
This type of software can save you quite a lot in terms of money and materials. Instead of running a design to see if it works out well, you can simply run it through the simulator. It allows you to fix mistakes and change problem programming without wasting any materials.
CNC software comes in both free and paid models. However, as with most things, it’s unlikely that the best software for a CNC router will be free. Nevertheless, some of the free versions are wonderfully efficient and can be an excellent stepping stone when you’re starting.
Something else to consider is that many paid software programs offer a free trial. This allows you to test out multiple types before choosing the software that you like best.
When you’re trying to find the best software for your CNC router, you must know what you’re looking for. We’ve narrowed down the different CNC software elements to make comparisons easier, and to help you find exactly what you need.
When you’re trying to find the quintessential software for your router, consider the following:
When your business is just getting started, every penny counts. As such, free options can be incredibly useful. However, free software often doesn’t have all the features that paid software offers.
It’s important to ask whether the software is free or paid. If it’s paid software, consider the cost and work out if you can validate paying that much. Will you be able to cover the cost of the license and still make a profit? If not, you should probably look for a cheaper option.
The best CNC software for your business is one that’s easy to use.
In some cases, you may need the abilities of a complex program. If so, it’s well worth investing in the required training.
However, for most businesses, the products are relatively uncomplicated. They’ll do best with software that’s easy to use by any of the staff members. Not only does it mean that more of your staff can successfully use the machine, but it saves money on training.
The best CNC software for you is one that offers versatility. Preferably, you should be able to do a wide array of things with the software, without paying a high premium for every ability.
If you’re only doing a few basic things, then you might be able to use software with little versatility. However, if you decide to expand in the future, you’ll need to invest in more substantial software.
Isn’t it much better then, to buy software with high levels of versatility that allows you to expand whenever you’d like? We think it is.
When you’re learning to use new software, having access to professional user support is essential.
If the software seems to be glitching, you need to be able to ask someone what to do. If you think you’re doing something wrong, but you’re not sure what, you need access to tech support.
It’s essential to look into any software’s reviews and ratings. Other users’ experiences will tell you whether the software’s user support is terrible, okay, or fantastic.
Another thing to consider is whether the user support is a paid service. While excellent service may come with corresponding charges, you don’t want user support that’s too expensive to use. If something goes wrong, you need to be able to contact support without worrying about the expense.
Not all CNC software programs work on every operating system. The best CNC software for both beginners and experts will work on a wide array of operating systems.
The best software for you, at the very least, should work on your operating system of choice. It’s best to get one with diverse abilities, so you can use your software no matter which computer you’re using.
Possibly the most essential element of any software program, including CNC software, is which features it offers.
While an incredibly versatile program is ideal, you may not be able to afford one with all the abilities you’d like.
So, preferably, you should know which features you want as a bare minimum. Then, look for a software program that covers the things which you consider most essential.
We’ve put together this handy reference sheet so you can see what each program does, whether it’s paid software, and where to find it. Enjoy.
|
Software Name |
Uses |
Free/Paid |
Compatible Operating Systems |
Get it at: |
|
Easel |
CAD, CAM, Control, Simulation |
Free/Paid Versions |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
Fusion 360 |
CAD, CAM, |
Free/Paid Versions |
Windows, MacOS |
|
|
Carbide Create |
CAD, CAM, Simulation, Control (of Carbide CNCs) |
Free/Paid Versions |
Windows, MacOS |
|
|
VCarve |
CAD, CAM |
Paid |
Windows |
|
|
CarveCo Maker |
CAD, CAM |
Free/Paid Versions |
Windows |
|
|
AutoCAD |
CAD |
Paid |
Windows |
|
|
Openbuilds CAM |
CAM |
Free |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
FreeMILL |
Simulation, Send G-code |
Free |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
Denvi/Candle |
Control (sends G-code) |
Free |
Windows, Linux |
|
|
Universal G-Code Sender (UGS) |
Control |
Free |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
OpenBuilds Control |
Control |
Free |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
CNC.js |
Control |
Free |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
eCAM |
CAD, CAM |
Free |
Windows |
|
|
G-Wizard Editor |
G-code editing and simulation |
Free |
Windows, MacOS |
|
|
Linux CNC |
Control |
Free |
Linux |
|
|
Planet CNC |
Control |
Free when using licensed Planet CNC controller, paid for everyone else |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
Mach4 |
Control |
Paid |
Windows |
|
|
TurboCNC |
Control |
Paid |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
|
|
NC Viewer |
Simulation |
Free |
Browser-based |
|
|
CNC Simulator Pro |
Simulation |
Free |
Windows |
When it comes to the best CNC software for beginners, most novices prefer all-in-one software. These programs cover the design, manufacture, and control aspects needed to use a CNC machine.
In some cases, the software only covers the CAD and CAM aspects or doesn’t work particularly well at control. Even so, these can be treated as all-in-one when used in conjunction with free control software.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular and commonly used all-in-one CNC software programs.
Easel is potentially the most famous CNC software out there. Almost every CNC machinist has tried Easel at some point.
You can use Easel for CAD, CAM, and control. However, some machinists claim that the control aspect of the program is a bit buggy.
This is an excellent program to use when cutting your teeth on CNC machining because they offer a free array of basic tools. If you wish to learn more advanced skills and have access to more tools, you can simply upgrade to the paid version.
Easel sports a plethora of features, including:
When you upgrade to Easel Pro, you unlike even more features, such as:
If you decide to go the paid route, you’re looking at a cost of either $24 per month (before taxes) or $233 per year.
Fusion 360 is another popular CNC software, that features a large array of different tools and abilities. Not only can you use CAD functions on this program, but it has CAM, control, and simulation abilities as well.
Among other things it hosts:
This is one of the best CNC software options on the market. As such, it can be considerably more expensive than some of the other programs.
If you decide to use this program long-term, you’re looking at a fee of $70 per month or $409 per year.
Carbide Create is arguably one of the most versatile CNC software choices on the market, although it doesn’t have control functions.
Among the many features it offers, Carbide Create allows you to create and use various design features like:
In manufacturing terms, it allows you to use:
The paid version of this software has even more to offer. Carbide Create Pro boasts all the standard features, as well as:
Unlike many of the other software options for CNC, Carbide Create doesn’t offer a monthly purchase option. Instead, you can pay for either a yearly or perpetual (lifetime) license.
Annual licenses cost $120 per year, and perpetual licenses cost $360. It’s worth noting that, if you buy a perpetual license, you’ll only receive software updates for one year. After that time, you’ll still be able to use the software, but updates cost an additional $120 per year.
Design is the first, and arguably most essential, part of the CNC creation process. A versatile software program with plenty of abilities is essential in this regard. The following software options are some of the best free and paid CAD-specific programs on the market.
VCarve is a popular, and well-known, design software that offers plenty of features for both beginners and professionals. These include:
There’s a free version of this software, but it has limited abilities when compared to the Pro option. For the paid version, you can expect fees of $699.
CarveCo Maker Plus is the paid version of CarveCo Maker. While the free version is fantastic, Plus offers some additional features. Among others, you can expect the following features:
If you buy this software, you would pay around $50 per month, $600 per year, or $1200 for a perpetual license.
For many people, AutoCAD is the number one CNC software choice. It offers seemingly limitless tools and abilities, including plenty of 2D design tools like:
3D design tools include:
AutoCAD offers much more besides, including tools to facilitate easy collaboration with coworkers and a customizable user interface.
This isn’t free software, and you can expect to pay $235 for a monthly license or $1,865 for an annual one.
After designing your workpiece, you need to program the manufacturing aspects of the design. Computer-aided manufacturing software allows you to program essential aspects like toolpaths, bit choices and cutting speeds. These are some of our favorite CAM software programs.
Openbuilds CAM is a free software used for setting up the manufacturing aspects of CNC machining. It offers plenty of features, including:
FreeMill offers a wide variety of CAM features, including:
As its name suggests, FreeMill is 100% free CAM software. You don’t need to pay for licensing, use, or additional features.
CNC machines only understand G-code and, if your software doesn’t have a built-in G-code sender, you need stand-alone software. We’ve listed some of our favorite free and paid software for this purpose.
Candle is one of the most well-known G-code senders since it’s free to use. It already offers useful features, like:
Since this software is cloud-based, no installation is required. However, it only works on Windows.
UGS is another free G-code sender, that works well in conjunction with most machines and CAD programs.
It’s not merely a sender though, and it lets you:
Since this program is open-source, it’s entirely free to use.
OpenBuilds Control is free software that runs spectacularly alongside OpenBuilds CAM. It offers a wide array of features to help you run your CNC machine, including:
This software has many advantages and, considering that it’s a free service, may be one of the best CNC software options for G-code sending.
CNC.js is an open-source G-code sender software that’s entirely free to use. Since it’s web-based, it operates on any operating system.
This program has a myriad of features, including:
This software has many other features and, since it’s open source, you can always suggest additional features.
eCAM is a diverse and versatile G-code sender that allows you to do more than just send code. Among other things, you can:
Unlike the other software programs on our G-code sender list, eCAM requires a license. You can buy a mill-only or lathe-only license for 150€, a complete license for 200€, or a complete and adaptive license for 350€.
G-Wizard Editor is free software that offers a surprising amount of features. For example, you can:
Once you’ve completed the CAD and CAM aspects of CNC software, you need something that allows you to control the machine. The below-mentioned software programs are some of the best easy-to-use options out there.
As the name suggests, LinuxCNC operates only on Linux systems. Within Linux, it only works on the Ubuntu and Debian distributions.
LinuxCNC offers a wide array of versatile features, including:
This software is under public license, and free for use by anyone.
PlanetCNC is an excellent software if you’re looking for a program that runs on your operating system. Unlike some of the other programs, it works on almost any of the popular platforms.
It also boasts a broad spectrum of features, such as:
This software is free for anyone with a PlanetCNC controller with a valid license.
If you want to take your CNC control game to the next level, then you might want to consider professional CNC control software. These applications are some of the best professional options and give you all the reach you might need.
Mach4 CNC has a host of useful features, such as:
You can purchase two different versions of this software. The industrial license is $1400, and the hobby license is only $200.
If you’re looking for a feature-laden program, TurboCNC offers:
TurboCNC is a shareware, and the only fee is a $60 registration fee per computer.
If you want to ensure that your projects turn out the way you’ve planned, simulation software is an essential part of the process. We’ve listed some of our favorite software for running CNC simulations, checking cuts, and reviewing results.
NC Viewer allows you to do many things, including:
This is free, cloud-based software with no fees attached. You can use it on any operating system since there’s no need to install it.
CNC Simulator Pro is one of the most diverse simulators out there. With it you can access:
A license for this software comes at $99 per year, with $285 per upgrade to a newer version of the software thereafter. You can also buy a perpetual or lifetime license for $535.
We hope that this overview of the best CNC software has helped you to find what you’re looking for. Whether it’s design, manufacture, simulation, or control, one of the above software programs will work.
If you’re new toCNC machines, then many different aspects can be a bit overwhelming. We can help you find what you’re looking for.
Our array of TorkCNC3-axis CNC machines is up to almost any task, and we’d love to help you build a package that meets your business needs. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, have questions, or just want to learn more, please feel free tocontact us.
