Welcome to LinuxCNC.org

Hello!

Loking for opinions on what is a good Cad/Cam package for Linux, either free or reasonable. I want to be able to do milling of various materials and circuit boards.

Thanks,
Kevin

I use a variety of software on linux and Mac OS X that is open source for toolpath generation. My favorite at the moment is called HeekCAD/HeeksCNC. It's really alpha at the moment and can be a pain to install. So, that being said, if you're into circuit board milling, you might look at gcam:

gcam.js.cx/index.php/Main_Page

For just plain old 2D drawing, I like Qcad a lot now. It seems to come stock with most linux distros (or you just install it from Synaptic in Ubuntu).

I also run some windows applications under a program called 'Wine' which is a windows emulator. I have Autocad 2000, Rhino3d, Progecad, Vectorcam, and a few other programs working with it. Of course these aren't open source.

If you haven't already checked it out:

wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/emcinfo.pl?Cam

has a lot of good links to related cadcam software for linux.

I hope that helps a little.

Dan

Thanks Dan, This is some great information.

I am just about done with windows on a personal use basis. Too many virus's and crap! So I thought while I am setting up my cnc machine I would go Linux all the way.
I actually have autocad 13 but don't know if I want to use windows or if I do it want be on the machine computer.

Kevin