Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Visual Mill vs Visual Mill Basic questions

Peter,

Thanks for the excellent response. VisualMill Version 5.0 does so much more
with 2D which is included in the basic package that most new users will not
need the full package unless they do high end molds.

A user can start with Basic. If they want to upgrade their initial price is
protected towards an upgrade.

Bob Campbell
Bob@...
www.campbelldesigns.com
Breakout board
THC board sets
CNC router plans
Stepper Motors

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Renolds" <prenolds@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Visual Mill vs Visual Mill Basic questions


> Hi Michael,
>
> I am a long time user of the full version of Visual Mill, actually since
> version 2.5 about 4 years ago. At the time I was looking for a CAM
> solution, and before I discovered VM, I had been seduced by the
> Graphical User Interface (GUI) of SurfCAM. I contacted the local rep
> and was dismayed to learn that 3D would run about CDN $15K. Ouch! The
> guy was quite condescending about the low end packages, but did
> eventually suggest BobCADCAM - which I duly looked at and bought a
> copy. I only wanted the CAM functions as I already had purchased my CAD
> software, IronCAD which is a powerful solid modeller, at the time, it
> was well ahead of what Solidworks and SolidEdge could do and it has just
> about every import/export file format you can imagine. Anyway, I spent
> several weeks, trying to import a file from IronCAD into BobCAD - with
> almost total lack of success. The documentation in BobCAD was terrible,
> and I just could not figure it out. I ended up selling it on eBay.
>
> It just happened that it was around trade show time in Toronto, and I
> attended a show where many CAD and CAM solutions were being
> demonstrated. That was where I first saw Visual Mill and when I learned
> the price, after the SurfCAM experience, I was VERY interested. I still
> had almost no experience about using CAM software but decided to spend
> the $100 (refundable) trial for a 30 day licence of VM. Sadly, even VM
> is rather deficient in the documentation field, but it does come with an
> excellent set of tutorials in its "Getting Started" guide. I worked
> through those tutorials several times and was amazed at how much I could
> then achieve. I was making chips and the parts were actually resembling
> my CAD designed parts. Wow! Over the years, I have learned a lot more
> about creating tool paths and minimising cut time etc., but still
> approach this stuff as a continuous learning experience... Anyway, I
> agree with Bob's comment, most likely you can get by with the basic
> version and here's why. In previous (earlier) versions, the "clear
> flats" algorithms were not as clever and I found I needed Plateau
> Machining and Valley Re-Machining a lot to clean up flat surfaces and
> crevices respectively. Now this is handled perfectly in Horizontal
> Finishing so I rarely use Plateau any more. The only other "Full
> Version" commands I use are Horizontal Re-Roughing (with a smaller
> roughing tool), and occasionally still use Valley Re-Machining. I also
> use the Toolpath Instancing frequently - to machine multiple identical
> parts in the same setup. None of these would be show stoppers, they
> just save me time, and instancing reduces tool changes etc.
>
> I would recommend trying the 30 Day full version trial of VM and then
> decide if you really need it or can get by (most likely) with the basic
> version.
>
> If you don't have CAD software yet, you should also consider Vector - it
> is available with integrated CAD CAM for a lot less $$$ - there's
> probably a free (or low cost) trial available for it, too. But I love
> my IronCAD and Visual Mill and find them robust, reliable, intuitive,
> and with excellent tech support. I won't change for anything!
>
> The Visual Mill "Getting Started" guide can be downloaded by
> "interested" people. It might go a long way to helping people
> understand the CAM - machining workflow... It's at:
> http://www.mecsoft.com/Mec/Downloads/VisualMill5.0GettingStartedGuide.pdf
>
> Happy learning!
>
> Cheers, Peter
>
>
>
> Michael Moore wrote:
>
> >Hi Bob,
> >
> >I considered dropping you a note before I made my post but if I did
> >that then no one else would have access to the information. It
> >seems to me that sharing information is what these groups are for,
> >and I'm probably not the only person who is just getting their feet
> >wet (or damp) with CNC who has similar questions, so maybe you
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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