Software options and Mac Users?

[Darryn]

Hi folks im about to buy my first Laser Cutter, currently thinking the LS3060 or maybe a LS3040, I'm unsure until I get to see them in the flesh and work out the pros and con, I'm pretty much totally a Mac User and it appears that the LaserCut software is Windows only, has anyone had any success running it along with any necessary drivers within Parallels? Im reluctant to stick a full blown Windows partition and Bootcamp onto any of my machines.

What are the system requirement for the LaserCut software and controller interface? I thinking of just finding a cheap old WindowsXP laptop with USB socket and using that, doing all the design work in CAD or Photoshop on my Mac and then just sending the required file over to the windows system for output.

Also, does anyone use AutoDesk 123Make it seems designed for turning 3d Models into 3d slices ready to be cut?
Can anyone recommend any other Windows or Mac software that will come in handy?

Thanks Darryn.

[Spooky]

Hiya Darryn,

AutoCAD all the way

To be honest running lasercut from a Mac while possible isn't a good idea a dedicated windows box will certainly cut down on any problems you may have.

Sliceforms are great, from memory 123 is only available for Macs at the moment though (although that may have changed)

best wishes

Dave

[PhillyDee]

I use draftsite from Dassault Systemes. Free as well! Great piece of software.

I also use Corel X5 for arty farty stuff, it can be a pain on huge files as it loves the splines.

[paul_l_curtis]

Hi folks im about to buy my first Laser Cutter, currently thinking the LS3060 or maybe a LS3040, I'm unsure until I get to see them in the flesh and work out the pros and con, I'm pretty much totally a Mac User and it appears that the LaserCut software is Windows only, has anyone had any success running it along with any necessary drivers within Parallels? Im reluctant to stick a full blown Windows partition and Bootcamp onto any of my machines.

I have an LS3060 and I run Parallels on a MacBook Pro with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD to give it some breathing room . I design in 64-bit Windows 7 under Parallels and pop my designs in a Dropbox folder so I can use them anywhere. I also run 32-bit XP under Parallels, and only to be able to run the crufty LaserCut software and the bloody USB dongle. I tried running the LS3060 on a 64-bit Windows 7 DELL laptop, but no dice. In the end I just decided I might as well run XP only for cutting as I use Windows 7 on the same machine for software development.

It works out *really* nicely. There's no problem running XP full screen in Parallels under Snow Leopard, same for the Win7 installation. I go edit in Win7 on Illustrator then three-finger swipe to go back to XP and import the design and do the setup and cut.

-- Paul.

[Kris]

Hi,

I have a Macbook Pro and I tried using Virtual Box to run XP, so I wouldn't need 2 machines, and could essentially have my files on the same machine in a shared folder.

Long story short, I ended up getting an old 32 bit laptop from Freecycle because it didn't work. I could run all the software but you need to give Virtual Box permission to use the USB ports for the cutter, giving it permission every time. It connects automatically for the CD drive, keyboard, trackpad, things like that, but the dongle and the cutter were separate and had to be activated manually. After each cut cycle, the USB disconnected, and I couldn't reconnect it with completely shutting down XP first. I couldn't find a solution and in the end went back to my ancient tower PC while waiting for a laptop to become available. This also meant a USB stick for transferring files.

Let us know how you get on, because using one computer would be great.

Macbook Pro
10.7.5, 2.4Ghz, 8GB ram, HD 3000 (512mb)