Re: Which CAD/CAM Package

This is an area that can get very confusing when you're starting out,
some controller programs, like Master5 and its successor Mach1, can
import dxf or HPGL code directly. Other controllers only deal with G
code; but the main Acad interface seems to be dxf import, I don't
know of any of the low end programs that can take native ACAD.dwg
files. One of the difficulties I found when trying various CAM
packages was the ACad version dependency, there isn't a strict
standard for the dxf format.

Depending on the complexity of what you're doing you can hand code
the G-code.

Bernard


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "paul_norton2001 <paul@n...>"
<paul@n...> wrote:

> Which of the low cost (or free) programs can import and export
> Autocad compatable files?
>
> Paul N.
>
>
> -- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Bernard R
> <bwjarandall@c...>" <bwjarandall@c...> wrote:
> > Again depends on what type of machining you're going to do. I
> ended
> > up with Rhino/VM because I found many of the G code conversion
> > programs had problems dealing with Acad's bulge factor when
> importing
> > dxf files, and many times dxf need manipulation to re-arrange the
> > order of the various curves. From previous posts on the subject

a

> > lot of people have spent a lot of time evaluating free/cheap

CAD /

> > CAM packages, quite a few seem to have taken up the special

offer,

> > valid to the end of this month I believe, of Rhino/VM, others
> swear
> > by Vector or Dolphin.
> >
> > MO if its all new to you, you spend a lot of time wondering why
> > things don't happen the way you think they should and it doesn't
> help
> > if the various software packages don't tie together very well.
> >
> > Bernard
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "mmurray70
> <mmurray70@n...>"
> > <mmurray70@n...> wrote:
> > > First of all, thanks for the amazing response to my "Learing
> > > Autocad" thread. Some of you guys have brought it to my
> attention
> > > that Autocad may not be the best choice for my situation so I
> > though
> > > I'd post this question and see what you guys think.
> > >
> > > I'm only interested in CNC work. And at a small scale, I'll be
> > > useing small 3 axis mill. This is primarily intended for
> something
> > > in my spare time. Its not something that I'll be doing as a
> career
> > > and I'm not interested in years of education towards it.
> > >
> > > So what do you guys reccomend for both CAD and CAM software? I
> just
> > > asumed it would be better to go with Autocad, the "industry
> > > standard", and get a seperate CAM program for converting to G
> code.
> > > Am I better off getting getting a package that does both or get
> > > seperate programs?
> > >
> > > I've heard good things on Rhino, Solid works and Vector in the
> past
> > > but I kinda decided on Autocad (havent bought it yet!) since

its

> so
> > > popular. Should I rethink my decision? Please post any

opinions.

> > > Thanks in advance!