Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO]Bob Cad

Hi Earl,

I am also a the stage Bill is at in that I am in the process of conversion, the drivers and motors are sorted and it is time to look for software. While not being adverse to paying for it I am looking at the free stuff first before committing the cash in the hope of buying right first time.

I have several question that you may be able to clear up for me and the others on this list who are not quite so knowledgeable.

Why use a CAD/CAM program if, like you, I use a CAD drawing package like ACAD or Turbo CAD. Most of these drawing packages out-put files in .dxf format. While not useable in a CAM program such as the freeware STEPSTER or EMC it is easy to import the DXF file into a conversion program which generates the G-code. I found one such program which was shareware and only a few $'s for the licence. I agree it is sometimes necessary to edit the G-code to ensure the tool paths don't cut too much in one go or it doesn't run into clamps etc. (Must hunt this down, it is somewhere on my system). After all most of us are driving the motors with a different computer either Dos or Linux based because of the problems using Windows and machine control.

Could you tell us more about what these CAM/CAD programs do?

Terry


I have been using Bobcad to write my programs for XYZPRO software that runs
my small bench mill/drill I got in 1993.




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