Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] BobCAD/CAM v.s. Dolphin CAD/CAM

I'm doing the same thing. So far Ive looked at dolphin, vector, bobcad
and turbocad, this week I will start looking at the linux options also,
Qcad etc.
Of the ones I've tested so far turbocad was the easiest to use but I
still want to work thru the full Vector tutorial, kind of bummed that it
says it is a 30 day demo but the software says it expires in seven days.
Also important to me is the ability to do text with a full range of
fonts. I tried to get the vectorfontz demo but the email with the
download instructions came back blank.
I also wanted the CAM function built in but it looks like I may lean
toward EMC so that may not be that big of a deal.
On the CAM side I've looked at kellyCAM, master and EMC but since my
machine isnt built yet I cant be fair to those either.
There are lots of low cost DOS options it seems but I ruled those out.
As far as cost goes it looks like turbocad is the most full featured for
price to me.
I am using a sample part for something we made at work with all manual
machining as a test part to see if I can draw it in each program. It
seems simple to me but it may be too complex for someone with zero CAD
experience to do as far as giving each program a fair eval. Turbocad was
the only one where I could actually draw it. Anyway thats what I am up
to, there are alot of options and I'd be interested in others comments
as well.
Darrell

mszollar wrote:

>
> I'm just getting started in the CAD/CAM world and have begin to
> review the different options for CAD/CAM software. I'm looking for
> reasonable price (this is only for a hobby), easy to use and full
> featured (in that order; see hobby note). I've been playing around
> with Dolphin (and like it) and have just downloaded BobCAD and will
> play with that as well. I've looked at a few others but most others
> have been confusing (IMO) likely because I don't have a backround in
> CAD/CAM or they where CAD only, requiring me to use a separate CAM
> package (IMO CAD/CAM in 1 package is a plus).
>
> Has anyone else done any eval of the various (lower cost) CAD/CAM
> systems? I'd be curious to hear from you if you have; it may save me
> (and others on the list) time and $$).
>
> Please; this email is not intended to begin a war; I'm just curous
> about the good/bad of the various packages.
>
> Thanks,
> Ken