Re: BobCAD/CAM v.s. Dolphin CAD/CAM

My main hobby (and the primary reason for the mill and lathe) is
radio control helicopters (and airplanes, but much less than heli
(s)). There are many parts on heli(s) that are very expensive
unless you want plastic parts and many are only available in
plastic. I'd like to be able to mill/lathe parts in aluminum (for
strength and less flex in the control system), mill parts in plastic
as an alternative to high cost replacment parts, I'd also like to
mill custom parts and tools for my heli(s) (including 1-2 new
gears). My wife also has a few projects she'd like (I guess I
should do them for her; she did but me my lathe, mall, cnc upgrade
(and the heli(s)), sorry I plan on keeping her for a while (until
she stops buying me such nice stuff anyway).

As far as experience; I don't have a bunch of experience so ease of
use is of high importance, cost is 2nd.

FOr now that is all I'm thinking about but I'm sure once I get
better I will think of more things to do with it.

Ken

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Chris L <datac@l...> wrote:
> 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
> >
> > Addresses:
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