Re: Solid modeling/Cam

Will,
Rhino and Visual Mill is a potent combo. The only other thing that
might be good (CAM only) is DeskProto. I know it is the cheapest 4th
axis software out there, not sure if it is applicable to lathes. Also
it has a neat double-sided milling wizard in it that makes 2-sided 3D
milling a snap.

I bought BobCAD v18...and I have to say that it is the biggest POS I
have ever used. Vector, by the way, started out as BobCAD (or the
other way around) Fred and Bob are brothers...and had a falling out.
Vector is a bit better than BC, but I don't like either of them. This
day and age, I want nice wizards that ask for my input and intuitive
part programing that is easy and powerful to use. I also want a full
3D preview of what the machine is going to cut before I even turn it
on.

-Brady

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Will" <nmbmxer@y...> wrote:
>
>
> I am looking for a Cad/Cam program to use on a Shoptask machine, so
I
> need both a mill and a lathe module. I was looking into Vector, but
> after using the demo for a couple days, its not quite what I was
> looking for. I've had several years of Autocad in college, and I
find
> it faster to use when making wireframe 3d models, it just doesnt do
> cam. I also learned featurecam, so thats what I tend to compare
> software to, too bad I'll never be able to afford it.
> Are there any low priced (<$900) cad/cam programs that use
> solid models instead of wireframes? Or should I just look into
> getting a Cam program and using AutoCad to generate the surface
> models?
> William