/cq-cam

Primary LanguagePythonApache License 2.0Apache-2.0

CQ-CAM

CQ-CAM aims to become a free, parametric CAM solution for 3-axis CNC mills closely integrating with CadQuery.

Documentation: https://cq-cam.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

⚠ NOTE ⚠

Highly experimental at this stage. Expect bugs and always inspect the generated gcode.

Requirements and installation

Install locally editable development version

Install cadquery and the optional deps (CQ-Editor, opencamlib).

Clone this repo, navigate to the source folder and run pip install -e .

Install release version

As above, install cadquery and the optional deps (CQ-Editor, opencamlib) and run pip install cq-cam

Contributions

Feedback is welcome. Please discuss before proposing changes or opening PR's.

Roadmap to v1.0

The scope of v1.0 is open for the time being. Some possibilities are

  • Climb/Conventional
  • Bore Operation (helical drilling)
  • Optimize rapid and cut order (opt-2? meanwhile if you need more optimized rapids check out https://gcode-sort.web.app/)
  • Other strategies
  • Ramps

Current features (v0.1)

See https://cq-cam.readthedocs.io/en/latest/operations.html for a showcase of different operations and features.

  • 2.5D Profiling
  • 2.5D Pocketing with ZigZag and Contour strategies
  • 3D Surface with ZigZag strategy, using opencamlib
  • Drill Operation
  • Visualizing toolpaths in CQ-Editor (requires master version)
  • G-Code generation
  • Profiling tabs
  • Optimize rapid and cut order (nearest neighbour)

Permanently outside of scope

  • Simulation
  • Lathes and 4D