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

Ken,
Much of what you NEED is better addressed if you can tell us what you want to
do.
What type of things do you want to make ?

You said that you feel CAD/CAM in one package is your preference..... I would
not jump to that conclusion quite so fast.


I have never found a program that deals with both ends in the way I would
like it to. In other words, Some may have an excellent drawing portion, then
fall flat on their face with the CAM aspect. More often though, they do a
pretty good job creating toolpaths but do not draw like they could. I've
stated my dislike about SurfCam/Cadkey drawing concepts in the Surfcam post.
Sure, they DO draw and they DO crest Code, but, you really need to ask how
well or how efficiently.

As a little example, I know darn well I could dig a 6' diameter hole 30'
down, put a hand pump on the top and pump nice cool water for every "wet
need" my family has. BUT, I would much rather use an electric pump !

Some of these programs "draw" harder than "drawing" water with a hand pump !

I would agree with another poster, that seperation between the two is
sometimes beneficial. For most everything I do, I draw in AutoSketch or
Ashlars 2d version. Why ? I can draw what I need in those much, much faster
than for example in A-Cad Lt or some of the drawing portions of whats out
there in combined programs. (I spent a few years with Lt.) AutoCad for the
most part is really the "old way" of drawing things, Sorry. (oh-oh...here
comes the flames !)

Then there are those that are "way out" with some unbelievable concept !
Yikes !

Anyhow, After coming up with the drawing, It can be imported into
VectorCad/Cam. You could continue to draw if necessary or you can move to
creating toolpaths.

Why Vector ? So far, for the money, Vector seems to seamlessly be able to not
only import pesky dxf files, But, also Organize them, Eliminate duplicates,
easily close open entities and create really good toolpaths. I only looked
briefly at the Dolphin Demo so I can not comment.

If you need to do full 3d work on a budget, The Free Pro-desktop is really
what you can call a good deal ! This combined with STLWork should work quite
well. I have used Millwizard which is similar. I did have areas where it
gouged for no reason. I think that STLWork would be the better option.

What I use the most, I hate to even say on this NG. It is a bit "Artsy" for
"true cad" work... It can't even "trim" entities in the common sense. But
when it comes to (2-1/2d)quickly pocketing, drilling, Text work, Layer
handling, Code naming, sending files to machines, yaddayadda...... It's a
hands down a winner. This thing sends out G-Code, HPGL, HPGL2, Indexer, or
other proprietary does not seem to be a problem. I think it has more than 150
pre configured posts.

I ran it side by side with $8000 worth of Surfcam and well, sometimes the
Surf never got fired up. This product does not get the respect from the
"machinist market" it deserves especially when I see so many guys wrestling
with Fonts and Text Work.

I've hounded this company for years, encouraging them to apply true Cad
techniques and polish up their "Post" capability (it don't need much). If
they did, It would truly be better than most out there, yes, even the $10-15K
stuff. As of late, it seems this company just falls more and more apart with
more and more people "crabbing" that they do not return calls Etc. Too
Bad.....
That program starts around $800 for a limited work area, and progresses to
$2000 for an unlimited one.

Chris L


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
>
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