Re: Which CAD/CAM is best for 2D Plasma Cutting??

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Sorin Paul"
<sorin_paul@z...> wrote:

> No ,Dolphin is just a CAD/CAM program.
> If you want a controller program for plasma, I think Mach2/3 is

the best.

> You can download demo from www.artofcnc.ca .
> There is the support group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mach1mach2cnc/

> For CAM, hobby level, I strongly recommend you SheetCam .

www.sheetcam.com

> Sorin
>
> ----- Original Message -----

As a daily user of plasma CNC and working within a budget, the "best"
(translated: most cost effective) combo for getting from an idea in
your head to cut pieces, is to use your CAD of choice (I use QuickCAD
forerunner to AutoSketch) and/or CORELDRAW for drawing. To define
the toolpath and special moves you need in plasma cutting (lead-ins,
piercing moves, delay, etc) the SheetCAM product (www.sheetcam.com)
is an excellent and low cost choice. Finally to take the g-code
generated by your CAM program and spin the motors in a constant
velocity (important in plasma cutting) the MACH2 solution is the
answer. As well as being low cost, it is the only package with
intergal Torch Height Control and a matching low cost THC hardware
solution to give you all of the features of a much more expensive
commercial package.

A lot of your choice for a drawing package depends on the type of
product you intend on cutting. Corel is superior for "artsy" type
stuff and handling text (and the resulting modifications you have to
make for plasma cutting).

By using indivdual pieces for the three main legs of CNC (Drawing-

>Toolpath->Cutting) your options are flexible and wider. All of this

market is rapidly evolving and it's nice to be able to take advantage
of being able to change 'leg' without replacing the entire system.

So lets recap. The above solution (excluding CAD/DRAWING solution)
is: MACH2 = 150.00 + SHeetCAM = 150.00 plus THC hardware + 350.00 or
about 650.00 for a professional solution. It does require a fully
functional Z axis but any THC solution will require a motorized
lifter and sensing circuitry. Plan on spending a minimum of 1350.00
for a stand alone THC circuit if you elect to go another path. If
you plan on using your plasma to do anything but "play" a THC will
pay for itself in short order based on the increased consummables and
reduced scrap costs.

There are several free or low cost CAD systems around and you can get
older versions of CorelDraw for 35 to 85 bucks. Version 9 is the
best deal since it has all of the vector and import/export features
you will need. It is not limited to DXF import and export and will
import virtually any vector (or bitmap) clipart and make changes then
export in DXF or HPGL for CAM processing.

Keep you options open.

TOm C
Resident Torchhead