CAM software

[jdurand]

Any suggestions for decent 3D or at least 2-1/2D CAM software for a small mill? The latest update to my CAD software broke the CAM plugin (again). They haven't really updated the CAM plugin in years so only charge me for the main program updates, but still...

Anyway, I've got some very simple DXF to g-code software that is getting me through current projects (see attached) but I'm going to need something better eventually. Free is best if it works. Cheap is second best. Expensive is out of the question.

The lettering was done with an engraving cutter in the mill, then I changed tools to make the holes.

[Mac The Knife]

I use Mach 3 to control my mill, and use SheetCam for the majority of my 2.5D cutting. For 3D I have Meshcam which utilizes stl files, but He has been experimenting with arc fitting, making the code a lot more compact. V Carve Pro is the last one I bought, and I have used it for more then generating gcode, you can edit vector files, trace bitmaps. Even used it to fix dxf files that wouldn't open up in other programs.

[mhackney]

Big difference in price between 2-1/2D and 3D so make sure you know what you really need.

I use Vectric VCarve Pro and have for a few years. For 2-1/2D work it is excellent. The workflow is logical and it has some great capabilities. Recently, I needed to move to fall 3D and looked at Aspire. Great app no doubt but I also need lathe CAM. I ended up (after demoing and talking to sales guys/gals pretty much every sub-$3000 application out there) with BobCAD with 3D plus 4th rotary, lathe and a few other goodies. I really like it. I didn't need CAD, I use Rhino, but now that I have it, is very convenient to use to knock out a quick part or make an update.

[precisionpete]

How many guys are on the forum that use cad/cam packages is the number

What cad package do you use that the plug-in isn't working?

Mach3 with cambam is a cheap option for a basic package.
I started out with flashcut cnc which you can get a demo file. The demo will import .dxf and convert to gcode. Very basic but is more than enough for most people. The only limit to the demo is you can't go live.

Visual mill has a pretty good package.

Make sure the package does what you need and future work expansion. IMHO unless you have cnc lathe don't bother, it will drive you crazy trying to find a lathe package for cheap.
Support and training are nice to get you started or when you just can't figure out why or how to cut something.

Kinda like figuring out the slicer settings for extruding plastic!

[JFettig]

CAM packages I've used:

BobCAD/CAM - about 10 years ago, TERRIBLE. I really hope it has improved. They pushed and over promised so hard it was incredibly annoying! I'd never buy from them based on my previous experiences
GIBBS - only used it a little bit, made nice parts
MasterCAM - made some really awesome parts with this, I really like the package once I learned it, its a very powerful package but any geometry creation in it kind of sucks.
Hypermill - didn't do much with this, has some nice features but is not nearly as flexible as MasterCAM
Visual Mill - decent cheap software
V-carve - decent cheap software

Back in the day I had this autocad plug-in that would basically g-code any line you tell it to, was quite nice for manual tool pathing - draw your path, it programs it.

I don't have significant hours in any of those packages, probably the most in MasterCAM, then Visual Mill then V-carve, the others were minor.

Father in law uses sheetcam for his plasma table, seems decent, very simple program.

For home use, I would probably look into visual mill again, all the ones I used were at previous jobs

[jdurand]

Just for mechanical I used to use AutoCAD but when they went to a Windows version it went downhill. For example, I could no longer use my nice multi-button bitpad (maybe someday we'll get back to those when Windows catches up with the past).

I eventually traded that in for TurboCAD and currently use TurboCAD Pro, latest version. The CAD software works fairly well, but like most software has some issues. Just like our PC board schematic and layout software, every update to the software, no matter how minor deletes all the preferences. &^%$#@!

With TurboCAD the plugin is so old that it will only work with the 32-bit version of TurboCAD. So, I have to have two versions of TC installed. 64-bit for getting work done and 32-bit to give the plugin something to crash.

Here's the controller board I have:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Prod ... 13298.html
It's a clone of the Planet CNC controller with motor drivers added all on one board, much like the Rambo is an Arduino with extras.
It comes with a license for USBCNC software. The Planet CNC website claims anything you didn't by directly from them is fake, but they activated the installation and send me updates. There's various people selling this on eBay and other places, if the license files are fake, nobody is trying very hard to stop it.

[DavidF]

Ive been looking into cam software myself and just downloaded the bobcad-cam demo. Having some trouble figuring things out with it. Sales Rep already called/emailed (that was quick) Im going to watch a live demo tomorrow. They have a 50% offf sale this week....Ugg wheres that tax return???

[DavidF]

Well, i have to say im not real pleased with bobcads if you buy it tomorrow after your demo or this offer go's away sales pitch.
They have really rubbed me the wrong way especially since they recommend cancelling my demo if i wasnt ready to purchase to free up thier instructor's time.

Anyone ever look into sprutcam?

[Mac The Knife]

I'm not a fan of there sales pitch. Makes you wonder how far they mark up the price to be able to offer you 50% off right away.

[JFettig]

Sounds like nothing has changed.

[mhackney]

I can honestly say that I beat the crap out of BobCAD and the other cam apps I trialed. I have had nothing but good experience with the product and the company. They were aggressive on the sales front but in the end, I got an incredible deal for lathe, 3D plus rotary 4th and art modules - this is how a lot of enterprise software sales work. If you like to haggle, you can get a good deal. But trial the product and the competitors. I had the opposite experience with SprutCAM. Their team wouldn't answer questions, return calls and at the end of the day (I had narrowed it down to Sprut and Bob) they wouldn't budge a penny on the price. I was spending $5000 so I DO expect a little wiggle to earn my business. I also have to say, I was a motivated buyer, not a tire kicker. I made it clear exactly what I was looking for, who I was evaluating and what my timeline was. The BobCAD sales guy seemed to respect that, he didn't bug me. The Dolphin guys on the other hand were horrible and still call me even after I said GO AWAY. I actually tried their product in early 2014 and it didn't fit my workflow. A sales guy convinced me the new version addressed my issues, it didn't.

BobCAD has performed very well, better than I expected actually. I created a custom post for my special tastes and that was straight forward.

I have heard stories of BobCAD and that almost prevented me from purchasing. But in the end, the product spoke for itself - this is the new V27 version.

regards,
Michael

[DavidF]

Personally i would rather purchase from a company that doesnt sway from thier set price. Im buying a product, not a used car from Jimmy Joe's car emporium.
Well hey yall sure i got a car just for ya it for sale for 6500. Dollars but you take it right now ill let ya have it for just 3000.. Test drive sure you can test drive it, come on in here and sighn this paper work and you can test drive it right noe. Oh well you don't want to commit to it right now? Well maybe we should hold off on that there test drive. No sir no sir no sir i sayed that power brakes were standard didnt say nothing about it coming with tires, and dont worry once you put tires on it and get on down the road that air conditionin' be just fine.

So heres this software for 4495.00 but this week only you can have it for 50% off and if you act tomorrow well even throw in this free training bundle a 495.00 value.
Maybe im just not the haggling type, but i know a sales gimic when i hear one.
What really p me off was his comment that if i wasnt ready to purchase tomorrow that we should wait to do the live online demonstration so he could free up his instructors time. But atleast he was kind enough to refer me to thier youtube channel

[nitewatchman]

Well, i have to say im not real pleased with bobcads if you buy it tomorrow after your demo or this offer go's away sales pitch.
They have really rubbed me the wrong way especially since they recommend cancelling my demo if i wasnt ready to purchase to free up thier instructor's time.

Anyone ever look into sprutcam?

I have a Tormach PCNC 1100 and Tormach sells SprutCam. While I haven't purchased SprutCam, many on the Tormach Site have. The capabilities and results based upon their postings are impressive. Only bad comment is that the learning curve is a little steep before it levels off.

Have you looked at DolphinCam?

[jdurand]

I just signed up for BobCADs "hurry, expires soon" offer to join their mailing list for discounts. At least I know when the sales droid contacts me that we start at a 50% discount off list. That puts their 2-1/2 D down in the price the TurboCAD plugin cost some time back.

[DavidF]

Well, i have to say im not real pleased with bobcads if you buy it tomorrow after your demo or this offer go's away sales pitch.
They have really rubbed me the wrong way especially since they recommend cancelling my demo if i wasnt ready to purchase to free up thier instructor's time.

Anyone ever look into sprutcam?

I have a Tormach PCNC 1100 and Tormach sells SprutCam. While I haven't purchased SprutCam, many on the Tormach Site have. The capabilities and results based upon their postings are impressive. Only bad comment is that the learning curve is a little steep before it levels off.

Have you looked at DolphinCam?

Havent looked into dolphin yet, but i will.
I really wanted the pcnc 1100, but wife wanted a new car so im doing a go704 conversion. Hopefully it works out ok. From what i have seen with sprutcam it looks pretty straightforward compaired to what im looking at on the bobcad
Reguardless no matter what i purchase ill be in for a learning curve..

[mhackney]

I did a G0704 conversion and run my entire business from it. Great machine if you have the time to put in.

I spent a lot of time with sprutcam and at the end of the day, it's 3D strategies were just not up to par with BobCAD. I will shut up after this post but I have to say the BobCAD has just been great software to work with. It generates predictable toolpaths and I always have confidence with the first run with new code.

cheers,
Michael

[DavidF]

Michael, is there anything i should be specifically paying attention to during the build? Ive had this machine since december and havent really touched it. Too easy to use the bp with dro. lol

[Polygonhell]

I've yet to find CAM software I really like, and I've tried quite a lot of it. For most of my milling I use the Free Version of HSMWorks which has all of the 2.5D functionality and I almost like, but it requires you can get a reasonably priced version of SolidWorks (Student discount or Use it at work).

Now I don't machine things for profit, I have an older Novakon CNC Mill, but it's not a job for me, so part of the issue is I have limited time to come to grips with the software which rules out a lot of the software options.

A lot of it is about what you are trying to do, what your workflow is, and how much you are willing to pay, the primary reason I use HSMWorks is the SolidWorks integration.

[mhackney]

David, what build are you doing? HOSS's or another one?

[DavidF]

I bought a kit from dave clements (arizona video on YouTube ) and the hybrid steppers and drivers from kelling.

[Eaglezsoar]

How many guys are on the forum that use cad/cam packages is the number

What cad package do you use that the plug-in isn't working?

Mach3 with cambam is a cheap option for a basic package.
I started out with flashcut cnc which you can get a demo file. The demo will import .dxf and convert to gcode. Very basic but is more than enough for most people. The only limit to the demo is you can't go live.

Visual mill has a pretty good package.

Make sure the package does what you need and future work expansion. IMHO unless you have cnc lathe don't bother, it will drive you crazy trying to find a lathe package for cheap.
Support and training are nice to get you started or when you just can't figure out why or how to cut something.

Kinda like figuring out the slicer settings for extruding plastic!

What does it mean that flashcut cnc won't go live?

[DavidF]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/ueALn4w5aoM[/youtube]
ok here is what I have going on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueALn4w5aoM

[precisionpete]

snip..... The only limit to the demo is you can't go live.

What does it mean that flashcut cnc won't go live?

It won't communicate with the driver board, at least that's what I assume. I have the package complete with electronics.

[mhackney]

David, feel free to connect with me via email or PM if you have any questions about the G0704 conversion.

cheers,
Michael

[jdurand]

Funny, I never heard from Bobcam with their "one day only special."

I downloaded the trial for SheetCAM and it looks like it's going to work well. At the moment I need to make a minor edit to the g-code file to turn my non-standard spindle on and off.

The demo allows you to save up to 180 lines of g-code which is fine for testing. I'm going to cut out some simple panels tomorrow.

Their way of selecting machining operation using layers in the DXF file is interesting, seems like it will be pretty easy once I get used to it. My current CAM plugin doesn't have any automatic selection of a group of things to machine, you have to click on each hole/pocket/etc. and set the entry point and what you want to do with it. The SheetCAM method should actually make things faster for panels with a bunch of holes (I have some with fan guards and air vents milled in).