Re: easy to learn use cad/cam cnc software?

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Tyson S."
<timbercutter@y...> wrote:

> Hi, as I know very little about this I still don't really know what

I

> am planning to use. I know someone who has a Mori Seiki mill and I

once

> asked him what CAD software he uses for his business and I really

think

> he said TurboCAD. So I immediately thought the thing would cost
> $2000.00 dollars. But I see it advertised for about $100.00 on

line. So

> this was my reason for looking at that system. As far as control for
> the unit is concerned, I was in Thailand (Bangkok) this last March

and

> visited Spar Mechatronics factory. That was very cool to see them
> making the CNC routers in a small family owned business.
> http://www.spar.co.th/ Anyway, they use open loop stepper motors

with

> Gecko drives and MACH2 for control. I like the way MACH2 looks on

the

> computer with the colorful tooth path on screen as the cutter moves,
> and I also like whatever that DRO looking thing is that shows the

XYZ

> position. They used the keyboard to jog the Z down to the work piece
> and then ran the G code and cut the part as a demo to us. But my

real

> attraction to MACH2 is the CNC Plasma Torch height control at
> campbelldesigns. As I may wish to plasma with my gantry unit

someday.

> So unless there is some reason why I should not use MACH2 for CNC
> control of a: 1. Router, 2.Oxy/Fuel Torch, 3. Plasma, and 4. Ball

Point

> ink pen to draw things on paper, then I am kind of decided on that
> program, unless I am wrong about being able to do this things for a
> fair amount of ease once I learn how to use it. ????
>
>

MACH2 has nothing to do with the CAD or CAM part of the equation (Oh,
okay, it will import DXF and build a primative toolpath AND do "peck"
engraving from bitmaps but it's not a real CAM piece). It is a
Controller that executes g-code and puts out the correct pulse train
(step and directin) to drive your motor controllers.

If you want to do plasma there are several things you want in your
CAM program. The first is lead-ins. You will find in plasma cutting
not having lead-ins makes the machine very limited. The second is
control of the pierce and cut parameters. Unlike a router where you
move to a postion, turn on the spindle then plunge down to cut depth,
in plasma you move to position, plunge to pierce height, fire the
torch, delay until the arc is established (variable length of time on
most machines) and then start the XY moves. The ability to control
the plunge speed can help as well. Most of the CAM packages
(integrated with CAD) aren't optimized for plasma. In several you
can develop your own post processor that addresses some of the issues
but not the lead-ins. You can draw the lead-ins in the CAD package
but you will find that to be a total PITA unless you only cut a few
items a month.

It's important that the CAM part of the equation be capable of doing
what you want to write correct g-code to send to the Controller
Software (MACH2). A lot of that depends on what you are trying to
do. There are few low cost programs that have decent CAM features
for plasma. We have been working with the author of SheetCAM to
address those issues. For 150.00 USD it's the best value of CAM
software for doing 2D and 2.5D milling and shape cutting. SheetCAM
is built with the same approach as MACH2 where the users are the
beta testers and also the software features committee that get to
help shape the software. You can have a problem and Les can address
it in a short time. A good example is that one user needed a special
application to cut the sloaping surface of large diameter pipe using
SheetCAM and the CampbellDesigns THC300. Les wrote a custom post (I
think) that addressed the problem.

As you can see from the group response that everyone has their
opinion as to what package and approach is best. The answer will lay
in your own experience as you start actually cutting out parts.
While a knowledge of g-code might be important for a job shop, if you
are cutting things you design and have a good CAM solution, you
should never have to look at the g-code. I can program in g-code. I
don't care to and I have my CAM setup with the correct post so I
don't have to. I can draw something, define the toolpaths in the
CAM, hit one key and 1 second later I have a 3500+ line g-code that
does everything perfectly. The whole process from start to finish is
fast and I can optimize output instead of rooting around in the code.

I have to try and remember that for some it's the pleasure of the
journey and for others it's about the destination. I derive the
greatest satisfaction in turning out quality work and watching a
machine I built run the job. Your mileage may vary :-)