Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Evaluating CAM software

Thanks, Fred.

I will just go ahead and try out all these packages.

So far.....

I like Rhino. I had a nice carved sign solid model in a few
minutes.

I tried a tool path with stlworks and got a mess. I was prob
me. I got a jillion little G01 moves. 4000 pages to be exact!

A tool path with DeskNC created a nice raster scan path
in a few minutes. But raster paths would be extremely
inefficient for the type of work I am doing. Looks like it
would be at its best with an axis mapped to rotary.

Low cost programs to convert autocad DXF files mostly just gave me a
headache. They worked, but way too much stuff to manually do.

Vector looks interesting but I am unclear about the object
oriented user interface. I cannot find all the stuff to properly
define tool path parameters yet. I did make some files from
fonts and they ran on the machine ok. The help files seem
a little scant on the demo but I will keep trying.

Vcarvz works pretty well. It is easy to understand and
creates sign tool paths very easily. I do wish it would not prompt me for a
feed for every single island it finds.I am now trying to figure out how to
get Vector to generate the code with the right tool parameters from the
Vcarvz file. Again, I am confused by the interface. I'm not saying its
bad...just different. And the help files are no substitute for a manual.

Mastercam looks fancy at first glance. It is not a standard
windows interface....from the way it loads it almost looks like
a DOS ap. I have not started a tutorial yet. It would have
to be very very good to justify 10 to 20 times the price of some of the
other stuff.

Ideally I need a real multipurpose CAM. We have some sign
carving to do, and some other ornamental sculpture in
things like wood and soapstone. We also have simple things like mortice and
tenons and dovetails. I have little conversational programs I wrote in c to
do that.The big machine is designed to do metal as well, so a system with
good dimensioning etc will keep me from turning handles on the vertical mill
as much.


Les

Leslie Watts
L M Watts Furniture
Tiger, Georgia USA
http://www.rabun.net/~leswatts/wattsfurniturewp.html
engineering page:
http://www.rabun.net/~leswatts/shop.html