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Products > Advantages

Why use CNC to create your parts

Advantages of CNC machining over 3D Printing

  • Free choice of materials, including materials that cannot be printed
  • Free choice of accuracy: both "quick and dirty" and a very high quality are possible
  • Large parts are possible, as large CNC machines are affordable
  • Low price per part
  • Easy transfer to production tooling, which will also be done using CNC machining.
  • No problems with STL files that contain inconsistencies like cracks, self-intersecting surfaces and orphan surfaces

rotation axis machining
DeskProto fully supports the use of a rotation axis: the model rotates during machining, so it can be machined from all sides. The picture shows the finishing toolpaths.

Advantages of DeskProto over other CAM software

  • Easier to be used: while conventional CAM software requires a trained CNC operator to correctly set all parameters, DeskProto can be operated by a designer without CNC training
  • Faster operation: while using conventional CAM software it takes hours of work to create and test the milling paths, DeskProto does the job fast, fully automatically and completely reliable
  • Price: DeskProto is much cheaper than any other 3D CAM software
  • Versatility: DeskProto can work with 2D vector files (DXF, EPS, AI, SVG), with 3D geometry files (STL) and with bitmap images (will be converted to 3D reliefs). Since Version 8 DeskProto laso offers V-Carving.
  • Number of axes: DeskProto offers continuous 4-axis machining (XZA, YZA or YZB paths), indexed 4-axis machining and and even indexed 5-axis machining (only for trunnion-style machines: the material tilts, the cutter stays vertical.)
  • Runs on your computer: DeskProto is available for Linux, for Apple MacOS and for MS Windows.

machining acrylate
result in acrylate
A CNC milling machine makes it possible to choose from many different materials. Here a bottle model is being machined in acrylate (perspex). One block of material, machined from two sides.

Advantages of Rapid Prototyping for product designers

  • Saving of time during the design process: an earlier product introduction will give you an important time advantage over the competition
  • Saving of money by automatically creating prototypes instead of by hand
  • Improving product quality by testing and improving the design in an early stage of the design process, long before production tooling
  • Improving communication within the design team and with third parties.