Virtual Gibbs?

Bruce,
Are you referring to the product I know as Gibbs CAM. This is about 18 grand today. Are these the same product?

Bruce Mowbray wrote:

> 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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> >>
> >
> >
> >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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>
> 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
>
> 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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>
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