RE: Vectorcam, bobcad, rhino3D, which one??

Hi List!

As probably many of you active listers have stated before, what Tauseef needs is a CAD package (to list some of them: AutoCAD - $2k+ , Turbocad - free, Rhino $0.8k, others....), a decent CAM package (MillVizard - not so expensive, BobCAD - $0.8k, .....) and a proper G-code interpreter (Stepster - free, K-Cam - was free, how some $, .....) So to stay below $1k would not be a major problem, you just need to know what you want to do...
For design I can say (by experience) that Rhino would give most bang for buck, especially if you do 3D designs with freeform surfaces (I designed a $200k product with it and seen many other projects done....). Than CAM, you need to know if you are going to do 3D freeform jobs or just 2.5D pocketing and routing. At this stage MillVizard might be usable in conjunction with Rhino (which is by the way one of the best (and cheapest) data translators available....) but if you do 2.5d pocketing and routing BobCad might be usable (I found it can not read complex 3D freeform surfaces...)
With MillVizard you need STL file which can be produced with Rhino (free fully functional demo available at their web site...) for any type of object...
This is all for 3 axis milling.
Four and five axis is a different story. For This I would go with professional controls (Siemens, Bosch, Fanuc.......) and CAM package (Mastercam, UG, ProE....), unless the fourth axis is indexed and used for engraving simple geometry. Than manual programming can be used (in conjunction to 3 axis CAM package).
Just my opinion, no commercial interest,....


Matjaz

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Hey guys!
I have been looking into some of the 3D CAD/CAM programs and would
like to know what you guys think. Mainly I am looking into buying
this year and am trying out some of the demos for now. Any hints, any
likes/ dislikes? Mainly the program would be used for fun and maybe
someday to make "real parts." I have a sherline mill (using CNCPro)
with a 4th axis but find 4D programs to be very expensive. What ya
guys think about vectorcam compared to rhino3D or bobcad? None of
them good? what would you buy? I would like to stay around the $500-
$1000 range (I know there is mastercam, surfcam, gibbs etc). If you
don't feel comfie telling "the truth" here please feel free to e-mail
me personally..I promise I won't tell :)
thanks!!
tauseef
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