"Best" cam was Re: Quick and Dirty One-Offs?

Bill,

Once you decide to go the "money" route; you pretty much need to find
the program that "fits" the way YOU think things should be done.
Nearly all the CAM systems these days do a good job at something; and
the better ones do a good job of more types of things. Price is
definitely NOT the best indicator of value in the CAM market, IMO.
But you do generally get more from spending more, once you move into
the kilobucks range... (which shouldn't be a problem if you're gonna
be making money with what yer buyin'. In business its cost vs.
benefit; money vs. time.)

It will be interesting to see what others say; because the question
you have asked is kind of like "Who's the best football team?",
or, "Who makes the best truck?". There's gonna be whole lot
of "right" answers...

So it comes back to you. What is important for YOUR projects? Which
features are NECESSARY< and which are just "nice"? Which type of
interface "feels" best to you? Which salesman seems to be telling you
the "truth" (in other words; who do ya wanna call when you have a
problem?) notice I said WHEN, not if<G>

Hope this helps,

Ballendo



--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Kichman"
<billkichman@c...> wrote:

> Ok, so in summary, the options for getting up to speed are:
>
> Autocad, 3d transferred to a CAM program such as VisualMill
> Ace Converter or similar g&m codes translator
> high end app such as Autocad Inventor with EdgeCam
>
> My head is spinning at this point. I understand the need to

understand g&m

> codes, and being able to resolve problems in a CAM app's output,

but having

> spent some time reviewing g&m codes, I feel like I am writing

assembly code

> here. This is just for hobby, but like for most of you, time is

valuable,

> so if I can generate a part more quickly and easily using a high-

end app, I

> am there!
>
> I took a look at EdgeCam's site, it looks pretty amazing, but

advertising

> usually does. Does anybody have any insight as to which app is

easiest to

> generate a 3d part with similar features for ease of use such as

this

> program? Is this a good program to use? Or should other programs

be

> considered?
> thanks
>
>
> R. William Kichman, P.E.
> Kichman Engineering Associates
> 103 Old Furnace Road
> Cornwall, PA 17016-0643
> tel/fax 717/270-0714
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marcus and Eva" <implmex@a...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 11:25 AM
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Quick and Dirty One-Offs?
>
>
> > Hi Ballendo:
> > Good points all!!
> > However, when I was just starting out, I had a Flashcut powered

Sherline

> and
> > I used a program called Drafix Cad to generate the CADwork.
> > Flashcut has a built in G code generator that works from DXF

files, and I

> > used that for DXF to Gcode conversion.
> > Here's where I started to run into snags very quickly:
> > 1) Any part or toolpath edit, no matter how trivial, required a

whole

> > barrage of housekeeping activities to get the final G code into

the

> Flashcut
> > controller.
> > I'm talking about creating the offsets for the toolpaths, doing

the

> > conversion to DXF, storing the file, retrieving it for Flashcut,
> converting
> > it, editing the code, checking it, and finally running it.
> > I found this very time consuming.
> > 2) Some simple activities required a huge amount of preparation

work in

> > CAD...things like facing a big surface with a small cutter (to

avoid a

> > toolchange for example), or milling a pocket.
> > These functions are canned in all but the most rudimentary CAM

programs,

> and
> > for a business user like Bill Kichman, are probably worth the

price of

> > admission right there.
> > 3) Some functions that are really a requirement for efficient CNC

milling

> > are difficult to the ultra cheapo way without hand coding.
> > The most important of these is tool entry control.
> > Entry and exit arcs can be easily drawn into the toolpaths, but

linear and

> > helical ramping are more difficult.
> > Plunging moves, as you know are murderously hard on tooling in

anything

> > other than plastics milling.
> >
> > From my experience with productivity doing it both ways, I'd

still vote

> for
> > a reasonable low end CAM program, that allows creating toolpaths

by

> > describing the part only, and has enough associativity to allow

efficient

> > edits of either toolpath or part geometry without the burden of

all of the

> > above.
> > Cheers
> >
> > Marcus
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "ballendo" <ballendo@y...>
> > To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 6:17 AM
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Quick and Dirty One-Offs?
> >
> >
> > > Bill,
> > >
> > > I'd suggst a different approach...
> > >
> > > Since you already know Acad; use it. Ace converter will do a
> > > reasonable job of turning your geometry into gcode, and it's

free.YOU

> > > will need to learn how to offset your toolpath from your part
> > > geometry, which will be good experience, IMO. Several other

programs

> > > exist as add-ons to acad for making toolpaths, at various
> > > capabilities and price points, if you want to throw some money

at

> > > the "problem".
> > >
> > > Either way, you can see how the "new" (gcode) relates to what

you

> > > ALREADY know (the Acad "lines"). This will make for faster

learning

> > > of the new concepts, IMO.
> > >
> > > An added benefit is that you will begin making useful things

nearly

> > > immediately; which will inspire you to do more...
> > >
> > > Sometimes I think we all forget that learning something complex
> > > doesn't have to be an "all or nothing" proposition; you CAN

just get

> > > the tip of your toe wet, and gently ease into the "waters"...

Before

> > > you know it, you'll be swimming! (Much better than finding out

you

> > > don't know how to swim AFTER you've jumped in with both

feet!...)

> > >
> > > Hope this helps,
> > >
> > > Ballendo
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Addresses:
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