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.
2023-04-22: A major refactoring has been merged, likely breaking features that were present in v0.1. Proceed with extra caution if using the untsable branch!
Requirements and installation
- cadquery=master=py3.10
- Optional visualization: cq-editor=master=py3.10
- Optional 3D toolpaths: opencamlib=2019.07 (note, not available in PyPI)
- Python packages in requirements.txt / setup.py
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