2D vs 3D CNC Milling Software: Which One Do You Need?

Choosing between 2D and 3D CNC milling software comes down to the shape of your parts and your budget.

You need 2D CNC milling software when your parts have flat features cut at set depths, and 3D milling software when your parts have curved or sculptured surfaces. Most real parts mix the two, so the practical question is not 2D or 3D, but whether one CNC milling package covers all your needs. The only real way of knowing which is best for you is to gain an understanding of what specific machining operations will be required to manufacture your designs.

RhinoCAM is available in five flavours, ranging in complexity and price. These are Express (XPR), Standard (STD), Expert (EXP), Professional (PRO) and Premium (PRE).

To help you figure out what your milling needs are in terms of software, we have set out below four comprehensive tables of machining operations ranging from 2½ axis to five axis. The fifth table compares other software features.

In each table, the columns to the right inform you as to whether a particular machining operation is supported by the particular variant of our software, be it XPR (Express), STD (Standard), EXP (Expert), PRO (Professional) or PRE (Premium). For pricing in our currency, click in the options menu above.

FEATURE COMPARISON: