Re: Giving up on Vector CAD/CAM
Posted by
Andrew Werby
on 2009-10-09 12:29:13 UTC
Hi Alan;
It's good to see you here again - it's been a while. That servo system you built for me is still going strong; thanks for doing such a good job on it.
As for CAD/CAM, have you looked at Rhino/RhinoCAM? Rhino is a NURBS (spline) based 3d modeling application that was originally developed in an early application of "crowdsourcing"; the application was distributed for free to a host of users worldwide, who used it for all sorts of things from jewelry to aeronautical engineering, and reported successes, failures, and suggestions for improvements. In this way, a lot of problems were averted, and rough edges in the interface smoothed out. Now in version 4, it comes with good documentation, you'll be pleased to know, including a manual, user's guide, and lots of tutorials (although they no longer provide a printed manual - it's all either on the disk or available online). There's also an active user's group, as well as regular free telephone support. You can download it and use it free for a certain number of saves, enough to get a good idea of how the program works.
RhinoCAM is a plugin that works inside the Rhino interface, and it's a port of Mecsoft's popular VisualMill CAM program. It's handy to be able to make small changes to your model on the fly, which is easy when you don't have to switch programs between CAD and CAM applications. RhinoCAM (now in version 2) doesn't have much of a manual, but it is fairly straightforward, and does come with help files, tutorials and phone support. Intensive telephone-based training sessions are also available at reasonable cost. It comes in regular and Pro versions, with the latter offering a lot of advanced functions like 4th axis rotary machining and numerous remachining options. The demos won't actually post code, but they do give you an idea of how the interface works.
Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com
"Alan Rothenbush" alan@... alanrothenbush
Date: Thu Oct 8, 2009 9:50 pm ((PDT))
I've been struggling with the dreadful documentation provided when I purchased version 11 of Vector CADCAM (clearly written for an earlier .. and different .. version of the program). I upgraded to version 12 in the spring, hoping that some better docs might be forthcoming.
Sadly, six months later, I'm still running with a demo license and there's no sign of any new documentation.
Vector appears to be extremely powerful and full featured software, but no matter how methodically I try to follow the tutorials, I soon find myself reaching for a good stiff drink!
(Even the instructions for how to draw a line are incorrect!)
In fact, more than two years in, I still haven't created any GCode with Vector, relying instead on my ancient AutoCAD for DOS and ACE converter.
I guess it's time to cut my losses and move on, but the problem is that I haven't been following what's available for a few years now (_trying_ to use what I've already purchased).
So what's out there for a 2.5D or 3D CADCAM program for a home hobbyist budget?
(Clearly, documentation is important to me; I'd really rather not spend months learning how to get to first base).
All opinions appreciated.
Alan
--
Alan Rothenbush
Client and Research Services
IT Services
Simon Fraser University
It's good to see you here again - it's been a while. That servo system you built for me is still going strong; thanks for doing such a good job on it.
As for CAD/CAM, have you looked at Rhino/RhinoCAM? Rhino is a NURBS (spline) based 3d modeling application that was originally developed in an early application of "crowdsourcing"; the application was distributed for free to a host of users worldwide, who used it for all sorts of things from jewelry to aeronautical engineering, and reported successes, failures, and suggestions for improvements. In this way, a lot of problems were averted, and rough edges in the interface smoothed out. Now in version 4, it comes with good documentation, you'll be pleased to know, including a manual, user's guide, and lots of tutorials (although they no longer provide a printed manual - it's all either on the disk or available online). There's also an active user's group, as well as regular free telephone support. You can download it and use it free for a certain number of saves, enough to get a good idea of how the program works.
RhinoCAM is a plugin that works inside the Rhino interface, and it's a port of Mecsoft's popular VisualMill CAM program. It's handy to be able to make small changes to your model on the fly, which is easy when you don't have to switch programs between CAD and CAM applications. RhinoCAM (now in version 2) doesn't have much of a manual, but it is fairly straightforward, and does come with help files, tutorials and phone support. Intensive telephone-based training sessions are also available at reasonable cost. It comes in regular and Pro versions, with the latter offering a lot of advanced functions like 4th axis rotary machining and numerous remachining options. The demos won't actually post code, but they do give you an idea of how the interface works.
Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com
"Alan Rothenbush" alan@... alanrothenbush
Date: Thu Oct 8, 2009 9:50 pm ((PDT))
I've been struggling with the dreadful documentation provided when I purchased version 11 of Vector CADCAM (clearly written for an earlier .. and different .. version of the program). I upgraded to version 12 in the spring, hoping that some better docs might be forthcoming.
Sadly, six months later, I'm still running with a demo license and there's no sign of any new documentation.
Vector appears to be extremely powerful and full featured software, but no matter how methodically I try to follow the tutorials, I soon find myself reaching for a good stiff drink!
(Even the instructions for how to draw a line are incorrect!)
In fact, more than two years in, I still haven't created any GCode with Vector, relying instead on my ancient AutoCAD for DOS and ACE converter.
I guess it's time to cut my losses and move on, but the problem is that I haven't been following what's available for a few years now (_trying_ to use what I've already purchased).
So what's out there for a 2.5D or 3D CADCAM program for a home hobbyist budget?
(Clearly, documentation is important to me; I'd really rather not spend months learning how to get to first base).
All opinions appreciated.
Alan
--
Alan Rothenbush
Client and Research Services
IT Services
Simon Fraser University