CAD CAM 101 was Re: Visual Mill vs. MACH1

Jeff,

There are three steps involved in cnc.
1)Create part geometry. (CAD)
2)Use part geometry to create toolpath. (CAM)
3)Drive motors to accomplish toolpath. (CNC)

Visual mill is designed to accomplish #2 above mostly, with a very
small capability for #1. It does not do #3.

Mach1 is designed primarily for #3, with some capability for #2.

So it is no surprise that they will be different...

Your Autodesk products are designed for #1. With 3rd party add-ins
they MAY be able to do #2.

You will eventually need to do all three items to make parts. For
many parts, you can accomplish 1 and 2 with your brain, a pencil, and
some paper. (You're gonna have a tough time sending out pulse trains
to do #3 though<G>)

As a previous response said, we need more info to help guide your
choice. There are MANY paths and combinations of these three items
which will make good parts for you.

Tell us more so we can help you.

Ballendo

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "washcomp" <jeff@w...> wrote:
> I'm a little confused by the type of software that I should be
> looking at for the Bridgeport I'm converting. Based on some of the
> discussions on the group, I downloaded the demo versions of Visual
> Mill and MACH1. They seem to be a couple of orders of magnitude
> different in complexity and capability. Both seem to have
> capabilities the other doesn't. I'd like to work in Windows. I
also
> have access to AutoDesk Mechanical Desktop amnd AutoDesk Inventor.
> Would these packages be of use? (No point in learning them if they
> are not as good as some other solution).
>
> Thanks for all your help.
>
> Regards,
> Jeff