Software
The aim of the Fab Lab is make the design tools available to all. Therefore we use freeware where possible. Here is a list of the current design tools and software we use. If you are not familiar with drawing packages. It is worth downloading a few at home and doing the online tutorials and you can be designing away in no time!!
Gimp - www.gimp.org/
Blender - www.blender.org/download/get-blender/
Open office - download.openoffice.org/
Inkscape - www.inkscape.org
Google Sketch up - sketchup.google.com/ with stl plugin
This plugin seems to work quite well www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl
However this program repairs any incomplete stl files www.netfabb.com/
Or this program http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/
Adobe - www.adobe.com/uk/
Qcad - www.qcad.org/qcad.html
Eagle - www.cadsoftusa.com/freeware.htm
MIT Software - http://fab.cba.mit.edu/content/tools/software/cad_cam/
Summary of software and file types for our equipment
|
Equipment |
Ubuntu Software |
Windows Software |
File Types |
|
Epilogue Laser Cutter |
Cad/Camm (MIT software) |
Inkscape(2D), Gimp(2D), Open office(2D) |
|
|
Roland Vinyl Cutter |
Cad/Camm (MIT software) |
Cutstudio (2D), Inkscape(2D), Gimp(2D) |
.jpg |
|
Modela Desktop Miller and 3D Scanner |
Cad/Camm (MIT software) |
Sketchup(3D), Blender(3D), Eagle(Circuit boards) |
.stl |
|
Dimension 3D Printer |
Qcad(3D) |
Sketchup(3D), Blender(3D) |
.stl |
|
Shopbot CNC Router |
Qcad(3D) |
Part works(2D&3D), Sketchup(3D), Blender(3D) |
.dxf(2D) .stl(3D) |
|
Janome MC 200E Embroidery machine |
n/a |
Basic program on sewing machine |
.jef |
|
Sewing Machine |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Note: If you have files made using other software, where possible you might want to bring your software in case you need to tweak things here,
