The user, managing a makerspace, finds current CAM software (like Fusion 360's Manufacturing tab) overly complex for beginners, deterring new users. They desire software that allows users to input a model and material, then "click go" without needing extensive machining knowledge, similar to the user-friendly experience of 3D printer slicers like Bambu Studio.
I manage a local makerspace in Austin, and I'm tired. Every week, I watch bright-eyed beginners' souls leave their bodies when I open the "Manufacturing" tab in Fusion 360. They just want to cut a simple wooden coaster, but they get slapped with "Adaptive Clearing," "Optimal Load," and "Rest Machining." Why is the desktop CNC industry so obsessed with hardware specs but stuck in 1995 regarding software? **Where is the slicer-like experience for milling?** I've tried Easel (too basic), Carbide Create (okay, but proprietary), and MeshCAM (abandoned?). Is there ANY machine under $3k that has software capable of saying: *"Here's your model, here's your material, click go"* without needing a degree in machining? I'd happily pay double for a machine if the software didn't scare away 50% of our new members.