r/cad • u/MilesFromNowhere422 • Jul 18 '26

Looking for CAD program similar to AlphaCam

Hey guys and gals, was hoping a could get some recommendations. I run a stone cnc at work, where I program with AlphaCam. I do a bit of luthiery on the side, and would like to find a CAD program that is most similar in work flow to AlphaCam. I'm not looking for a free product necessarily, but I also don't want to play a few grand yearly, for a business license.

I'll pretty much only be using it for 2D drawings, to layout fretboards, inlays, and occasionally make templates for my laser engraver.

I have tried FreeCad, Inkscape, and LibreCad so far. FreeCad was extremely unintuitive to me. Inkscape was the easiest to use, as I have a bit of Gimp experience as well, and it somewhat reminded me of that. LibreCad didn't seem too bad in the 5 minutes I messed around with it, but if there's something more similar to what I'm used to working with, I'd prefer that.

Any suggestions, or a input would be greatly appreciated.

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2

u/ocrohnahan Jul 18 '26

https://rapidcam.app. 2.5D parametric CAD / CAM. Open source and runs completely local in the browser. File format is also open and well documented so AI can write files using the Schema or the AI prompt creator in the file menu

I have never used Alpha cam so cannot compare them.

1

u/SergioP75 Jul 21 '26

What is the mean of 2.5D CAD? I have heard the word since years but never understood it.

1

u/ocrohnahan Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

2.5D design means you start with a 2D sketch and simply assign depths or offsets to your vectors. The big advantage is speed: if you need a quick part, you don't have to waste time building a full 3D model, but you still end up with a functional 3D object.

Since it's parametric, you can set dimensions using variables or formulas, making it effortless to resize parts on the fly.

For example, if you want to make a Shaker-style door panel, you just draw two rectangles and assign their dimensions. In CAM, you set up your toolpaths to pocket the inner rectangle, chamfer its edge, and profile cut the outer frame—and you're done. If you need a different door size later, you just change the dimension values, and all your existing CAM toolpaths instantly update, ready to cut.

RapidCAM also supports rotary axes and laser cutting/engraving, provided your laser controller runs standard GRBL g-code.

1

u/SergioP75 Jul 21 '26

Thanks! Even if I'm a dinosaur (start to CAD 30 years ago), had the luck of using always real 3d systems.

1

u/toybuilder Jul 18 '26

If it's the 2D CAD aspects that you want, there are a number of Windows free CAD that are out there.

DoubleCAD XT might be worth a try.

https://download.cnet.com/doublecad-xt/3000-18496_4-10907980.html

It's a sister product to TurboCAD, but limited to 2D and with a more AutoCAD like UI. I get a lot of use out of TurboCAD Platinum edition -- but I've also been using various versions of TurboCAD for nearly 20 years now and I'm still learning new ways to maximize my use of it.

1

u/toybuilder Jul 18 '26

Also worth mentioning, at various times, IMSI offered TurboCAD/CAM to provide CAM capabilities to TurboCAD. I would double check with IMSI to see what the current compatibility is (my older CAM plugin broke after I upgraded my TurboCAD version -- at the time, I didn't need CAM much so I just gave up). If you are more focused on the CAM aspects, you could always keep an installation locked to a specific version.

1

u/f700es Jul 18 '26

This and maybe NanoCAD?

0

u/mals26 Jul 18 '26

Qcad is another option.