Re: newbie questions

Vincent:

At 07:34 PM 2/24/01 +0000, you wrote:

>3) I'm in need of software reccomendations. the CAD side of things
>I'm OK with, having spend quite a few years with IDEAS and
>Solidworks. After greating a part in a CAd package, what next? I'm
>assming you need to send it to some sort of post processor to
>generate G code which the stepper controllers can work with. Any
>suggestions as to what to use? (ideally windows 98, as I have 0
>experience with Linux)

Do you have access to IDeas? If you do this software is part of IDeas, or
maybe a separate module. But yes you are correct, some software is needed
to translate the part or solid model into machine moves the CNC controller
can understand (usually G-Code). I know IDeas has a module which does this
but I haven't used it so I can't say how well it works.

For the list, IDeas is a HIGH end parametric solid modeling package on par
with Pro-Engineer.

There are less expensive alternatives, and few more expensive, but if you
have access you might check it out :-)

Hugh Currin
Klamath Falls, OR