Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] RE: CAM Software: Opinions Wanted

FWIW,
It was this reason that I opted for Virtual Gibbs CAD-CAM. When I was
looking at the various CAD-CAM packages back in the mid 80's, Virtual Gibbs
had the most efficient cutter paths of the 4 packages (under $3000) I
looked at. I make a lot of complicated High Frequency sealing dies and
there is a lot of tiny endmill work at low feed rates. All of the small
sections of feed that are cutting only "air" can add up in a hurry. I
payed only $1500 for my software as Gibbs was just getting into the CAD CAM
business at the time and they had a special half price sale. Along with
this I got 2 years of free upgrades and a less than informative tutoring. I
let my upgrade subscription run out because $500 per year, for seemingly
little upgrades, was a bit much for a one man shop to justify. Well
wouldn't you know it. I needed to upgrade the software so that I could
receive DXF's from one of my customers. (it didn't have that option in the
beginning) The cost was $750 to get back on the upgrade program plus $500
for that years subscription of upgrades. Fortunately I was able to make
this up with the job that my customer gave me.
I think the price of Virtual Gibbs software today is in the $4,000-$5,000
range depending on the level of intracasy and the upgrades are still $500
per year. I know this is not what the avarage home shop would spend but I
just wanted to bring this up to make you aware that somtimes the upgrades
could cost more than the initial price of the software. Is it a good
program? Yes. Very easy to use and very powerfull. But expensive.

>I'll have to agree with you Bryan.
>i've been using QuickCAD (from AutoCAD) do do 2D drawings and I hand code
>for most of my work (the non complex bas-relief stuff) and it's pretty
>quick. In the process of coding this way I can REALLY SEE and insert
>shortcuts for tool paths and reduce the number of tool changes, thereby
>cutting down on actual machining time.
>
>It also gives me the opportunity to see possible fixturing and other "little
>things" that might cut down on set up time as well as the number of actual
>set ups required.
>
>Smoke
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: dave engvall <dengvall@...>
>To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
>Date: Thursday, March 15, 2001 11:04 PM
>Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] RE: CAM Software: Opinions Wanted
>
>
>>Gail & Bryan Harries wrote:
>>
>>> .. So even though I have the money invested
>>> in BobCAD/CAM I do most of my 2 1/2D work based on sketches done in
>>> AutoSketch 2.1 and coding by hand in Word or NotePad... I know this
>sounds
>>> slow and long winded, but my familiarity with Sketch means I can get the
>>> geometry and the tool path offsets done in very short order... then the
>time
>>> to key in code is not much more than the time to read over the code to
>>> verify it as I would have to do with BobCAD/CAM...
>>>
>>> Bryan
>>
>>Hi Bryan,
>>You make a good point here....for some work Autosketch is just fine...it
>you are good enough to hand code.
>>It is very important that a package fits the way a person thinks...and
>that can be very different than someone else.
>>I tried BobCad demo and it just doesn't fit me. Some day I will find an
>affordable package that thinks the way I do. (rots of
>>ruck).
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>
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>>
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>>
>
>
>Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for the

discussion of shop built systems, for CAD, CAM, EDM, and DRO.

>
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>bill,
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>
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Bruce Mowbray
trainhead@...
http://www.geocities.com/trainhead391/
TMB Manufacturing and Locomotive Works
1 1/2" Scale & 2 1/2" Scale (Narrow Gauge) Live Steamer