Software Tools

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Software available to or useful to the Hackspace

The following is a list of the packages we have available to members of the hackspace. It includes packages installed on PCs at the hackspace, packages that we are able to offer a discount on to members of the hackspace and packages that members may find useful.

Software available on the Hackspace PCs

These packages are installed on the hackspace PCs. I there is a package that you would like to see available on one of the Hackpace PCs which isnt already listed please do get in touch with the Management committee and lets know what the package is. We can then check the licensing and install it if it is a good fit with the hackspace. Please do not install any packages yourself without first checking with the management committee.

Under no circumstance whatsoever install any pirated or illegal software on any Hackspace Systems!!

Main Office PC

General

Libre Office
Open Source Free Suite of office tools much akin to Microsoft Office
Writer, Calc, Impress and Draw
Notepad++
Text and Code editor

Art and Image Manipulation

Inkscape
Vector Art package
Gimp
Raster / Pixel / Photo manipulation Art Package

Vinyl Cutter

Silhouette Studio
Currently only running the free version of Silhouette Studio to process artworks for cutting on the Silhouette 3 vinyl cutter. We may get the full business version later.

CAD and 3D Packages

Creative 3D Modelling and Animation

Blender
3D Sculpting and modelling package capable of photo realistic image rendering and computer animation

CAD Solid Modelling

FreeCAD
Open Source 3D CAD package
OpenSCAD
Open Source 3D CAD package
LibreCAD
Open Source 2D CAD package
Autodesk Fusion 360
Commercial Professional CAD Tool Suite free for non commercial use.


3D Printer Specific Tools

Cura
Cura has been remixed by a number of different printer makers. We have the following variants installed
Cura Creality Slicer
Creality customised version of Cura.
Ultimaker Cura
Ultimaker customised version of Cura.
Lulzbot TAZ 4 Cura 21.08
Lulzbot customised Cura, the last release that still supported the TAZ 4.
Cura-Lulzbot 3.6.23
Most recent Lulzbot customised Cura.
PrusaSlicer
Prusa's own Slicer. This is the recommended Slicer for the hackspace as all our printers are configured in it.
Prusa G-Code Viewer
Prusa Tool for viewing G-Code
Sli3r
MeshMixer
Netfabb
Meshlab
Pronterface
Repetier-Host

Computer Aided Manufacture CAM Tools

VCarvePRO - Makerspace edition
A 2.5D CAM Processing package that will take a 2D or 3D model and convert it in to G-Code which can then be run on our CNC Milling machine. We are currently locked at V11.00 as the latest release hasn't got the Makerspace functionality integrated yet. For Hackspace licencing see below. and also this CNC Mill Usage page

Electronics, PCB and Microcontroller Software

Electronics Schematic and PCB Layout

EaglePCB
Electronics Schematic Layout and PCB Layout tools
KiCAD
Electronics Schematic Layout and PCB Layout tools

Microcontroller Programming and Software Development Tools

Arduino IDE 1.8
Legacy version. Code development and programming tools for the Arduino family of Microcontrollers.
Arduino IDE 2.0
New version. Code development and programming tools for the Arduino family of Microcontrollers.
Processing

Laser Cutter Tools

Ruida RDWorks V8
Custom OEM Laser cutter processing artwork package. Idiosyncratic user interface with interesting translations / interpretations from the native interface language which can make it challenging to understand. That said it works and members do still use it.
Lightburn
Superior laser cutter artwork preparation tool. Allows users to directly send to the cutter across the network. For Hackspace licencing see below.

Other tools

PuTTY
Terminal tool for connecting to other devices using a terminal interface across serial or network connections.
WinSCP
File Transfer utility
FileZilla
File Transfer utility
BalenaEtcher
Tool for writing disk images to removeable media for creating bootable microSD cards for Raspberry Pi and the like.

Laser Cutter PC

General

Libre Office
Open Source Free Suite of office tools much akin to Microsoft Office
Notepad++
Text and Code editor

Art and Image Manipulation

Inkscape
Vector Art package
Gimp
Raster / Pixel / Photo manipulation Art Package

Laser Cutter Tools

Laser Cutter Tools

Ruida RDWorks V8
Custom OEM Laser cutter processing artwork package. Idiosyncratic user interface with interesting translations / interpretations from the native interface language which can make it challenging to understand. That said it works and members do still use it.
Lightburn
Superior laser cutter artwork preparation tool. Allows users to directly send to the cutter across the network. For Hackspace licencing see below.

CNC Mill PC

General

Libre Office
Open Source Free Suite of office tools much akin to Microsoft Office

Art and Image Manipulation

Inkscape
Vector Art package
Gimp
Raster / Pixel / Photo manipulation Art Package

CAD and 3D Packages

Computer Aided Manufacture CAM Tools

LinuxCNC
CNC Hardware control system used to drive the Hackspace CNC Milling Machine

Software available to Hackspace Members at Discounted Rates

Lightburn
Buy buying a Hackspace Licence from Lightburn for this product we can offere hackspace members a special discount code to allow them to get the Full Lightburn Product for a fraction of the full retail price. Contact the Management Committe via Slack to get the discounbt code
VCarvePRO
Our Hackspace Licence for VCarvePro allows us to generate special codes which allow members to run the package away from the space so that they can work on processing designs at home.


Recommended or Suggested Software of use to Hackspace Members

CAD Tools

If you are interested in more art / games modelling / animation / sculpting computer modelling then Blender is probably the way to go.

Blender
https://www.blender.org/download/
Win/Mac/Linux native versions available.

For Engineering / fitting things together in the real world or 3D printing parts that will mate with real world parts then CAD like:

Free versions of Paid For Products
ONShape
https://www.onshape.com/en/products/free
Fusion360
https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/fusion-360/personal
Paid for products
(for those with DEEP pockets or lucky enough to be able to access discounted/Educational versions
Dassault Systems Catia/3DExperince
https://www.3ds.com/products-services/catia/
Dassault Systems Solidworks
https://www.solidworks.com/
Siemens NX
https://plm.sw.siemens.com/en-US/nx/
ONShape
https://www.onshape.com/en/
Fusion360
https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/fusion-360/
Open Source Free CAD
FreeCAD
https://www.freecad.org/downloads.php
Win/Mac/Linux native versions available
For anyone interested in looking at FreeCAD there is a free user guide / manual available from Hackspace Magazine called FreeCAD for Makers a PDF of which is available here https://hackspace.raspberrypi.com/books/freecad
Other packages people use
Sketchup
https://www.sketchup.com/
TinkerCAD
https://www.tinkercad.com/

Possible Hackspace Management Software Packages

Maker Space Manager Software Facebook page