Building Cutloom - a native 2.5D CAM app for macOS

CAD & CAM Tool Chain
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1

Hi all,

I’ve been doing hobby CNC work for quite a while, using CamBam on an old Windows laptop. Mach3 runs on an even more impressively old WinXP machine attached to the router.

Recently that laptop started becoming unreliable, which left me with a choice: buy another Windows machine mainly to keep my existing CNC workflow alive, or find a good Mac alternative.

I couldn’t really find what I was looking for. I tried Fusion 360, and while I can sort of find my way around the 3D modelling side of it, the CAM workflow still feels like overkill for the simple 2.5D jobs I usually do.

There are obviously powerful CAM packages available, but I wanted something much simpler: a native Mac application for the kind of 2.5D CNC work I actually do. Import a DXF, define some machining operations, preview the toolpaths and generate G-code.

So I started building it myself.

It’s called Cutloom, a native macOS 2.5D CAM application. The goal isn’t to compete with Fusion 360 or build a huge CAD/CAM suite. I want to make the straightforward jobs straightforward.

It already supports DXF import, profile, pocketing and drilling operations, toolpath preview and configurable post-processors, with support for GRBL and Mach3. I’m continuing to add the other core 2.5D operations and features now.

The public beta isn’t available yet, but it’s getting close. Before I get there, I’d really like some input from people who actually use CNC machines.

What do you consider essential in a simple 2.5D CAM workflow? Which machines/controllers are you using? And for the Mac users here: what are you currently using for CAM?

I’m building Cutloom as a commercial product, just to be transparent about that, but right now I’m mainly interested in feedback and finding out whether other people have run into the same problem.

There are some screenshots and more information here:

https://getcutloom.com

Happy to share more details about the project and how I’m building it as well. :slightly_smiling_face:

2

For simple 2.5D jobs, reliable DXF import and predictable GRBL output matter more than extra modeling features.

3

Hi Taylor,

thanks for the feedback. Predictable output of course is my focus. Coming from CamBam I did love that for simple jobs (engraving, simple parts) I did not have to fire up my CAD package and slap something together in a few minutes and cut the part. Also hope to reach that level soon so my super-simple workflow does not require fingers crossed when firing up the old HP machine :wink:

4

I know, Vectric released their macOS app a few days back, but I’ve come this far so I might as well see it through :slightly_smiling_face:

I’ve made quite a bit of progress on Cutloom since my first post.

What started as a fairly simple “DXF to G-code on my Mac” project is slowly turning into a proper little 2.5D CAM application.

At this point Cutloom supports:

  • DXF and SVG import

  • Profile operations, inside/outside/on-path

  • Pocketing

  • Drilling

  • Engraving

  • Multiple operations in a single job

  • Tool library and configurable feeds/speeds

  • Depth passes and configurable entry moves

  • Tabs

  • Toolpath preview and simulation

  • Configurable postprocessors

  • Mach3, LinuxCNC and GRBL output

I’ve spent quite a bit of time recently on the less visible parts as well: making generated toolpaths more sensible, improving G-code output, handling different controller conventions, and generally trying to make it difficult to accidentally generate something stupid.

One thing I’ve deliberately tried to keep is the original idea behind Cutloom: it shouldn’t become another full CAD/CAM suite. I mostly want to be able to draw something in CAD, open the DXF/SVG, select some geometry, tell it “pocket this”, “cut outside this”, “drill these holes”, and get usable G-code without fighting the software.

There’s still plenty to do, but I’m now getting to the point where I’d like to have other people actually try it on different machines and controllers.

So yes, Vectric’s timing could perhaps have been better from my perspective :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:, but I’m having far too much fun building this to stop now.

I’ll post some screenshots / examples of the current version below.

Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 10.38.50
Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 10.38.502424×1628 1.23 MB

Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 10.40.09
Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 10.40.092424×1628 1.27 MB

Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 10.40.46
Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 10.40.46532×1688 98.8 KB

5

Yay! Beta is up!

Don’t break too many toolbits when trying it out :wink:

6

This sounds like a very useful niche to target. For simple 2.5D work, Fusion 360 can definitely feel like overkill.

7

Thanks! I’m going to focus on testing on a real CNC machine for now, but the beta is up so you can check i out if you’d like.

Also love to hear feedback from others, and missing basic functions that would prove useful.