Re: VisualMill (was BobCAD/CAM)

1l. Re: BobCAD/CAM
Posted by: "Jack McKie" freshwatermodels@... freshwatermodels
Date: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:09 pm ((PDT))

Shawn,

If you can afford Mastercam go for it and don't look back. I am learning Rhino and love it. I plan to use Visualmill as a cam but it is only 2.5D though they offer a more $ which supports more axis. Much depends on your wallet and what you want to accomplish. If $ was no object I would get Mastercam and continue to use Rhino.

Jack

[It seems you've been misinformed, Jack. The base version of VisualMill is a 3d program; it also does 2.5d. The 4-axis module costs more, but that's to support an additional rotary axis parallel to X; something that's not necessary for 3d milling (although it's certainly nice to have). Since you like Rhino, you might be interested in RhinoCAM, which is a plug-in that has all the features of VisualMill in the Rhino environment. This makes it easy to make minor changes to the model or machining regions without having to switch programs. There's also a Pro version of VisualMill and RhinoCAM that has a wide range of high-end functions including 4th axis support, as well as various remachining options. I think it competes pretty well with MasterCAM feature for feature, although its price is lower.]

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com