rE:Re:RE: programming by hand

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

> Fred wrote:

(snip)

>
> >Also most drawings being generated today are in electronic CAD
> >format, so the issue of having to draw the part to machine it, is
> >becoming obsolete.
>
> MANY shops STILL get 'paper' drawings! They may have COME from CAD,
> but the files are back at the customers' location... Especially for
> simpler parts, it is often easier to just work from the paper
> IMMEDIATELY, than to "hook up" to get the electronic file. I will

say

> that this should only happen with new customers, and hopefully,

only

> once...
>

(snip)

Ballendo & Fred,

Only about 5% of our drawing come as CAD files. Even those from
the very electronic savvy companies.

We've done a couple of machining jobs on game controller prototypes
for a large software company headquartered in Redmond, WA and guess
what? Their drawings were on paper! One of them wasn't even done on
a CAD sytem, it was hand sketched.

Sometimes drawings in the form of CAD files can be a real hassle.
First off, you have to be able to read them. Pro Engineer, IGES,
Catia, different revs of Autocad dwg & dxf, and of course the
engineers who forget and send a file in some strange format internal
to their particular CAD system. I usually figure it'll take a couple
of tries and at least an hour to get an electronic file. I think the
file interchange problem is one reason we'll be using paper for years
to come.

Another thing about electronic files..there isn't any guarantee
they'll anymore right than a paper drawing. Just had one today, the
dimension on the drawing said one thing and the inherent dimension in
the drawing file was different?? Every see CAD files where the
entities that would represent a tool path are not connected? They
appear connected on the screen and on paper, but they might have
larger end gaps than the CAM program can automatically compensate
for. I see that one all the time.

Just some thoughts...

thanks,

Doug