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

|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 $$).

Ken -

I started out by using a combination of Intellicad-2000 and ACE Converter
for the CAD/CAM function. Both are available on the internet at the cost of
a download. Intellicad can be obtained from
http://www.intellicadms.com/default.asp and ACEConverter is available from
Yeager Automation. Then, Fred Smith offered a list special of VectorCAD (not
CAM) which I bought. After evaluating Vector, I found some significant
advantages of that product over the Intellicad/ACE combination - namely that
Vector offers the ability to make pockets and other CAM items quite easily,
where the Intellicad/ACD combo would force me to draw the tool paths. But,
if you're willing to develop the paths yourself, you'll find the
Intellicad/ACE combo usable.

I'm using Dave Kowalski's TurboCNC. It's a low cost shareware ($10) package
that comes with the source code (written in TurboPascal). It's fairly
complete. I chose it both for cost and for the source code availability,
since I like playing with software.

The bottom line - these tools will provide a usable CAD/CAM system for the
grand total of $10 for the low cost version, or check the mail archives for
the URL for VectorCAD/CAM's special list pricing. Again, not a bad price for
the capability it provides.

Unfortunately I can't comment on any of the other products simply because I
stopped looking when I found a usable combinatin.

-- Carol & Jerry Jankura
Strongsville, Ohio
So many toys, so little time....