Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CAM software recommendations

Hi Derek

You could have a look at the Vectric product
'Cut2D' (http://www.vectric.com/). This is created be a firm in
North Worcestershire, and you can download a free trial version,
together with several tutorials to experiment with. Whilst not free
to use permanently, it is not over-expensive and I have found the
support given by the firm whilst practising with the software
excellent. One of the tutorials shows how to make a locomotive
wheel, which is useful.

I noticed that they were using another of the Vectric products
(VCarve) to drive the CNC mill demonstration at the Midlands Model
Engineering show last week.

Keith

PS. See you at Woking?

At 16:16 27/10/2008, you wrote:

>Hello all
> Apolgies in advance if this has been covered recently. but when I
>tried searching the posts I got swamped by results, probably my
>criteria were too broad, but if you narrow them too much you tend to
>miss things.
> I have been using CNC lathe and mill for the last seven years to
>produce casting masters and very small production runs of parts for
>Gauge 1 live steam locomotive models.
> I am looking to replace the CAM software for generating G-code for
>both the lathe and the mill - preferably free or low cost - has anyone
>recommendations?
> The mill and lathe are controlled by a Windows XP box running Mach3.
>Mill tool paths are currently generated by MillWizard for 3D, but this
>can only move the tool parallel to the X or Y axis which wastes too
>much time and produces a poorer finish than can be acheived by
>following contours. Lathe and 2.5D milling tool paths are generated
>with Dolphin PartMaster. The problem with the latter is I am running
>version 8 (not the current version) and having just wiped the C drive
>to overcome Windows XP problems I have lost the licence. It turns out
>the old version is unsupported and they have no way of giving me a new
>licence. Very odd - their support used to be exceptional, but has
>suddenly become non-existant. I hate copy protection systems -
>particularly when they prevent you from using something you have
>legitimately purchased. For this reason I do not want to pay their
>high price for an "upgrade" to the current version.
> Thanks in advance for any recommendations
>
>Derek Mackenzie
>
>
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Keith Bucklitch
Little North Worcestershire Railway