Re: What is Cad/ CAM, Controllers and... opinions

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com, ballendo@y... wrote:

> Fred Smith wrote:
> >The choice of controller software is actually a minor detail once

it

> >is running.
>
> I guess this proves the adage,"If your only tool is a hammer,
> everything looks like a nail" rewritten to " If Vector is your
> preferred CAD/CAM pkg, then everything else is a VECTOR accessory!!"
>
> Having said that, Fred makes some very good points, epecially in
> light of the new members who may be devouring the recent opinions
> expressed re: software choices. I agree with Fred's statments(re-
> posted below, CAPS EMPHASIS added by me)
>
> >They nearly all understand G-code. Few can handle DXF or HPGL

with

> >any real finesse. Windows doesn't CURRENTLY buy you any

advantage

> >in a CONTROLLER. What are you after, a pretty computer, or a

system

> >that makes the part correctly and quickly?
>
> >The REAL analysis, as anyone that has made a part will tell you is
> >not to be done from a computer and with remote observations, but
> >from the ACTUAL PARTS produced.
>
> I have USED nearly ALL of the controls mentioned on this list. I

have

> mentioned before, the HUGE differences apparent when USING!

different

> controllers WITH THE SAME HARDWARE!! You'll NEVER get this from
> watching the backplot of a file on a screen! Some of the programs
> that LOOK the BEST, PERFORM the worst.
>
> I DO still look at things like poor spelling of menu items and
> parameters as indicators of overall quality, however. If ya can't
> catch the obvious bugs, what about ...
> (Especially when it's been pointed out and STILL doesn't change.)
>
> And I have also mentioned that I'd rather have a good

company/person

> behind a poor program than the other way 'round.
>
>
> >As far as the recent evaluation of "free" software on the

internet,

> >I was surprised that Ability System's Indexer LPT for Windows was
> >not mentioned. They have a direct HPGL read and I believe I

heard

> >that they have a nice lookahead in their Windows version too. I
> >can't vouch for the program, but I know many people have used it

for

> >many years.Best Regards,
> >Fred Smith- IMService
>
> Me too, Fred. I was really looking forward to this "saga". I have

to

> say I was really disappointed. He DID say it was HIS NEEDS/DESIRES
> and gave copious quantities of disclaimers, but many without
> experience will read this and think, "There's my answer!" To them I
> would say(again) Define YOUR NEEDS. THEN,and only then,define your
> WANTS. Now, go find as many of 'em as you can! (We're here to help

if

> ya get stuck.)
>
> Ballendo (ranting)

I understand your position. I think there are a lot of people in
this group that are not machinists, do not work in the metal industry
and want to learn and build machines to just do simple things. Most
of the parts I turn out in my home shop which is admittedly strickly
amateur, are for projects that would take longer for me to sit down
at my CAD system (yes I have one) and draw out than to just do my
rough sketch and make it. I am not building parts for commercial
usage. I was under the impression this group was setup for those
that wanted to have this as a hobby.

Yes, DOS is a lovely OS. It runs with a minimum of overhead, rarely
locks up or just dies with a blue screen. One of the reasons I want
to use Windows is that I can put down a Windows program and six weeks
or six months later fire it up and I don't have to re-learn all the
commmands. I wanted to be able to use the computers I already have
running on a small network without changing operating systems. Heck
all I want is to cut out mud flap covers! Its not fair to expect
everyone to have to deal with the baggage that some of the more
complex systems carry when all they want to do is the simple stuff.
If you were to come to me and ask what I would recommend to you to
build a web site, I would probably rip off suggestions about JAVA and
EJB tools along with maybe C++ and Sun Solaris as an OS....when maybe
all you wanted to do was have some fun and build a quick WEB site
with those "candy" tools like FrontPage. You wouldn't want to spend
the learning curve on how to use all those other tools. Once again I
understand that for people that want to make Mil Spec parts my
suggestions would not be appropriate. I made disclaimers that it was
MY saga and what I was looking for. I am not a Gates groopee. I have
cussed the "W" system for years. It was kinda nice the other day
though when I had to install a new modem card in a Win98 box and it
took 10 minutes start to finish. No picking IRQ's or loading and
configuring program specific software. No worrying about the board
ROM addresses or if the driver had to be in the Autoexec.bat or
Config.sys and would it use up to much precious DOS memory.

How about you guys spend some of your time and write some reports on
what you think is the best solution and which programs are better for
what. I see requests all the time in the group about newbies wanting
advice on software and systems and rarely do they get many replies.
At least my report gets people off the couch.

Tom Caudle