Laser Cutter Software

[plumyeti]

Morning,

 

What are other schools using in their DT department for their Laser Cutter?

 

Students are currently using 2D Design.

 

However, we need to make the switch over to Chreombooks for DT.

 

Therefore online/cloud-based is a requirement.

 

[PotNoodleTech]

Hmm have the DT department looked at alternatives?  Nothing else out there is as easy to use as 2d design - it's something of a perfect size porrage bowl that can't be replaced easily.

 

Ours have been using onshape and autodesk online for 3d stuff but that doesnt really do what 2d design does.

[chazzy2501]

You'll still need a windows device to "print" to the laser cutter.. So what ever it is will have to be importable to 2d design. (probably a .dxf)

 

 

[Aprice]

2D design is probably the most suited and the de-facto standard in edu. I'd maybe question if Chromebooks are really suitable for this use case.  

 

The laser will likely need Windows to drive it, unless it's something like a Glowforge.

 

 

[chazzy2501]

Fusion 360 online, it is full fusion 360 but in an RDP session for chromebooks.  You will have to apply to Autodesk for free licences and have the teacher assign them.  It is slow and I hate it. Good luck.

 

(we now use full fusion 360 locally but the windows deploy and updates are a struggle) 

[plumyeti]

 

The laser has a Windows PC to drive it. Students will place the file in the Google Shared Drive 

 

Windows laptops are becoming unreliable and unmanageable.

 

TO replace the current Windows laptops with more Windows laptops is not sustainable for us due to damage.

 

DT will be given Chromebooks just like every other department.

 

We are currently exploring Onshape.

 

Is anyone aware of training for Onshape?

 

 

[PotNoodleTech]

No not had official training but theres some good youtubers with Onshape tutorials TooTallToby is a good one

 

https://www.youtube.com/@TooTallToby/videos 

[synaesthesia]

Not looked at the chromebook (linux) version?

https://www.techsoft.co.uk/support/1103/installation