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

> On: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 22:52:02 -0600 Chris L <datac@...> wrote:-

>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.
>
>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 !)

No flames Chris, I fully agree with you on this.
A dedicated CAD drawing program is always far in front of any of the
combined packages. It seems that the combined packages are only looking to
produce the tool path for the CAM side to act on. Whereas the dedicated CAD
packages have to be flexible to handle the wants of engineers, architects,
electronics guys etc. This they usually get in speed and a list of
features.
Last but not least the user is probably more up to speed by virtue of
experience on his particular package. It only remains then to move this
file into your CAM system.
More comments after next reply:-

>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.

We say move it into the CAM system but actually it's still the CAD side we
move it into. You know the one we just said we didn't like to use <g>
Then we have to organise the toolpath - Why??? Because of the way it's been
drawn. Tool paths have to be sequential, one line leading on to the next
line or arc in the correct order and direction.
This is something I've never understood with Bobcad or Vector.
If you have a box with four radiused corners and you select a start point
and tell the program it's closed then it should goround and find the last
point no matter which way the entities have been drawn. On a simple closed
entity such as this there is no alternative so why the hassle.
Dolphin works this way, that's why I like it so much it's simple to use.
Somewhere in the menus is a button that shows to direction of the
toolpaths.
I don't know where it is as I've never used it. Don't need it and it only
clutters the screen up.
Same with tool offsets. Why do you have to draw the offset path??
If you tell the program you have a 1/2" cutter then the outside path to
produce a 2" square will be 2" + 1/4" = 1/4" = 2 1/2"
Dolphin understands this that's why it asks for a tool size.
The tool info in Bobcad and Vector is dead information. Other than tool
number it doesn't use this information. Dolphin can read sizes and length
offsets and use these in the program.

I use Dolphin on a daily basis to earn a living. That's a little different
to using it as a hobby program. They really do their best to listen and
help.
A few months back I mentioned that most of my work came in as dxf files.
A lot of this is quite simple stuff. An outside shape, couple of pockets
and a few drilled holes.
They altered the CAM side to allow users to import the file directly into
the CAM side. This means now that I have no drawing or offsets etc to do at
all now. I just select the shape from imported information, give it a depth
and the program takes care of the rest.
Pure straight code with NO manual editing.
The editing facility is fantastic. Because it has a genuine post processor
and doesn't generate on the fly like Bobcad etc. you can edit the
operations until you get what you want.
Say you want to profile an outside shape, pocket then drill a hole.
You realise that the hole overlaps the pocket and this will cause the drill
to run off. OK, no problem, just click on the drill operation and drag it
up the list to before the pocket or to save tool changes to the top of the
list.
It will then drill, profile and pocket in that order. The changes are
endless and you haven't had to touch the drawing. In fact with a dxf import
in the CAM side there is no drawing.

---
Regards

John Stevenson
Nottingham, England