It should be. We do our designing in OnShape, and use 360 for the CAM functionality - but 360 can do everything OnShape can do in designing a part. The collaboration features in OnShape are just so much better than what you have in 360, and the compatibility is great - the school gives all the students MacBook Air’s, and I don’t think 360 would do great there, but they can handle OnShape just fine.
We’re looking forward to OnShape releasing its CAM package, though!
Both easy and hard. It’s relatively easy to get things set up and moving, but it’s hard to find the right speeds and feeds you need so you get good parts without breaking bits. Lots of teams on here have the same machine, so you can get lots of advice to help with that!
None so far. We bought ours in 2020, and have used it heavily in every robot since then!
The Tube Fixture from WCP is awesome. We do a lot with 1x1 and 2x1 tubing, and this fixture is perfect for holding it down.
We also built a table for it, strongly based on the one WCP sells. You’ll need a computer to run it (we’re using an old MacBook Pro with windows installed on it, running out to an old monitor we mounted to the table).
You’ll also likely want a shop compressor available to blow chips, and it’s really nice to get a mister in place to help lubricate the cut and keep the bit cool.
You’ll need to buy bits as well, we’ve done almost everything with a 4mm bit so far (CNC Machine – Swyft Robotics Shop), and we got the collet set from that page so we have options for different sized shanks.
You’ll need spoil board, so if you cut a little too deep on sheet metal/polycarb (which happens quite often!). We just use some cheap MDF, cut to size. Replaced every year or two.
