Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Which is the best Cad-Cam Software?

Hi Kirk:
I'm not sure I'd use the words "affordable" and "Mastercam" in the same
post!!!
3D MasterScam is 25 grand!!!(Canadian).
There is a program out there called "Featurecam" that works well too and is
a bit cheaper than Mastercam and quite a bit easier for a beginner user to
work with.
One of Featurecam's best qualities is the ease of building post
processors...Mastercam is a bloody (literally) nightmare, and there's lots
of vultures (resellers) drooling in the wings to hose you down for a post.
Lots of list members have said good things about both Vector and Dolphin.
Bobcad has very few positive experiences associated with it, so I'm not
surprised you're feeling frustrated with it.
I'd check out Dolphin (John Stevenson in Jolly Olde England is a great
booster of this product) and Vector (Fred at IMS is the man to talk to for
this one).
Don't know if either of these supports solids directly, but I don't use them
much anyway.
I usually dump a file into the CAM program as a parasolid or IGES file and
work with surfaces and edge curves.
(That's mostly because I'm an old fart; set in my ways, and unwilling to
progress with the times.)

Cheers

Marcus

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kirk W. Fraser" <kirk@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 10:46 AM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Which is the best Cad-Cam Software?


> I bought a MaxNC which is on my kitchen table but I can't seem to get
BobCad to do much even after taking their CD-Rom training and some support
interaction. It seems quite a convoluted program. Is MasterCam better?
There are some programs aimed at jewlery like Cimigraphi but it is very
expensive. I'm sure there are several more packages (including the prospect
of writing my own which I may attempt if there's no better option).
>
> What are the software rankings by name, price, function, and ease of use?
Or if nobody has a list, then what works with 3D solid models, is easy to
learn & use, and is affordable?
>
> Thanks,
> Kirk Fraser
>
>
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