Re: Cam newbie needs help on Cad/Cam selection....

>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "dspinnett" <dspinnett@y...>
>wrote:
> Hi all...
>
> I've built a CNC mill (with ballscrews) and have been
> using 'Master5' and 'Mach1' for the NC part. I've just made simple
> stuff, exporting my 2d cad files to dxf and then straight into
> master 5 and mach 1. I want to go to the next step, which I
> understand to mean 3d cad/cam.
>
> I mostly want to make car/engine parts, and have 4 axis, and would
> like though not require lathe functions too.
>
> What have you all had luck with? I'm looking at Vector and looked
>at
> Bobcad (bobcad folks too pushy 0n the spam sales though)..
>
> Any advice?
>
> TIA.

First off identity what you need to do initally. Many people make the
mistake of going to 3D cam without actually understanding what 3D is.
90 percent of parts made on CNC machines are 2 1/2D that means they
are flat shapes with depth, often built up from different profiles.
3D is something like an aeroplane wing where the shape changes as a
series of curves.

The difference is in the learning curve, because a 3D program has to
handle complex shapes it's obviously harder to learn. Although 3D
programs can also do 2 1/2D by default it's the same set of
instructions which can be complex.

A 2 1/2D program on the other hand is far simpler to learn and use,
some have elements of 3D in them but only the simpler shapes like a
bottle etc.
It can often pay in time and money to start off with 2 1/2D and if
you need 3D upgrade later when you are happier with programming. Many
people have come to realise that even though they thought they needed
3D they haven't and so saved time, effort and money.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stevenson.engineers/lsteve/files/rexel%
20block.jpg

This large 16" by 6" deep cutter block for a pencil sharpener
although looking complex and having 4th axis work on it was all done
from a flat 2D drawing, in fact it was a dxf file. There is no 3D
work in this at all.
This was programmed using Dolphin from http://www.dolphin.gb.com/

John S.