Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re:CAM Software Options

Andrew Werby wrote:

Snip

> [Could you enlarge on that a bit? What does SurfCam do right that
> TurboCadCam does wrong? I found SurfCam's interface at least as opaque,
> myself.]

Well, Let me first say that it is not the cad side I enjoy of Surfcam because it is a bit antiquated. Ok, very antiquated. I would just Import dxf files in it, not draw in it. I feel it is however, a
lot easier to learn how to draw in it than TC for any newcomer who can get 20 minutes of demonstratio from an existing user. It is extemely similar to some of the Cadkey versions. Drawing in Surf
causes one to put a lot of "mouse miles" on. Newer versions are a bit worse in this regard compared to older Surf versions that had the "variables" located on the traditional left side of the screen,
making for less mouse travel. Key commands do save a lot of time if you apply them though. All in all, a slow way to draw.

What I meant about capturing more of Surfs Cam techniques was that once you have your geometry in Surfcam (unselected), you can quickly select what type of operation, pocket, contour, drill, you want,
then easily select the applicable geometry, pick a start point, and side to contour if applicable, then move to feeds, speeds, plunge options and tool overlap......Once those are selected, it saves
that NC data for you and you can access it in an operations manager where you can rename, retool, change options, set cut sequences and of course Post Code.

My TC demo expired, but as I recall, it seemed to ask for some information too soon. For example, i think it asked you what tooling, feeds and speeds before I even selected geometry to cut. It just
felt out of logical order to me, and I felt it did not make it clear what buttons did what. Of course as I mentioned in alt.cnc... I suffer from some inadequacies :-) I have spent a few years of my
life with Surf, so my review probably is not the most fair out there. I do know I don't think I will opt for it anytime soon.

When I give this whole topic some thought, I guess I like my Signlab method best for creating code. 1.Select geometry, 2.select option (contour, pocket, drill),3. fill out the corresponding pop up
dialog for what tooling, what overlap, how deep and how many passes, and it sticks the tooling paths on screen, then 4. I select which machine I want to create code for, and the next dialog asks the
how fast XY, how fast plunge, etc, and where I want to send the file if not my default setting. 5. click OK and the file is sent via tcp to my machines.

I could get to liking VectorCams toolpath creation more with MINOR improvements. 1. IF it would automatically place offset toolpaths for countouring operations instead of me having to draw them first,
and more importantly, 2. IF it had a dialog that allowed you to install a specific feedrate and plunge rate for the particular toolpath/cam action you are attempting to do. I can make it Ask me what
feedrate for every line, (takes forever) and then I have to watch carefully because it also throws in plunge rate when applicable. OR, the better option, it sticks in a default text ( i use FR for
feerate, PR for plunge rate, then do I find replace in the editor. Additionally it couldn't hurt to allow better toolbars so simple "drawing tools" are easier to get at and not multimenus deep. It
doesn't seem like rocket science.... and I can't imagine why the developers feel these are not crucial additions. It is an incredibly capable program, no doubt about that, and I learn more everytime I
use it.

If they could finish those items, they could get the money I could have spent on TC ! Maybe they will come back to that when they are done fiddling with Nurbs, Something as best I can tell, I do not
really need.

There, is my elaboration.

BTW, I still need to get a copy of Millwizzard from you...... I put it off until I could pick a 3d program I liked first. Just haven't had time this sumer !

Chris L