Re: Cutting a totem Pole

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "vrsculptor" <vrsculptor@h...> wrote:

> 2. What CAM packages would you use? I've looked at Mastercam and am
> not real sure it could handle imported 5 axis nurb generated

surfaces

> in any format. Could be wrong.

When you start talking about CNC sculpting you have to start looking
at artist based packages. One that I have seen that will allow you
to do just about anything in three axis mode (I don't know if any of
its post processors support 4 or 5 axis) is ArtCam5. It will import
DXF, STL and several other formats and allow you to do some very
creative things in 3D and view your finished work as a screen
simulation. One really neat feature is the ability to define a
single line (no matter the number of curves) as a "weave" with a
defined profile (edge view) and wherever the line crosses itself it
will simulate a weave pattern. It will work with either Vector or
Bitmap imports and you can "sculpt" using tools to create some pretty
impressive objects. It exports in Gcode ready to run through your
controller.

You better be sitting down when you see the price though (7K). Well
out of reach for the Home CNCer! There are some others like Cimagraf
(sp?) that can do the same. Mastercam9 may well be able to do what
you want but the non-standard Windows user interface made me give up
in desperation. There is also Rhino of which I know little but
others on the list may have more info.