Re: What's the best program CAD-CAM ?
- From: grumtac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: 18 Oct 2005 18:12:21 -0700
Paul T. wrote:
> There are also some free 2D drafting programs you can use instead of
> AutoSketch if you really tight on $, search the web and you'll find these.
Wow, Ya ! It is amazing what is out there in Cad Freeware today. What
we wouldn't have given a few years back for our Payware to work as nice
as some of todays Freeware !
Here is one pretty neat little development I came across a while back
for example (when I was searching for DXF to DWG batch conversion
tools):
http://www.a9tech.com/products/a9cad/
>
> For 3D work I don't have a good answer for you that doesn't take some dough.
"Dough".... That is the REAL question one has to answer first when it
comes to shopping for Cad/Cam. "How Much" can the person searching
spend ?? It really is the most important question we need to know
before we really can "suggest" what someone should start with, no
matter what he thinks he wants to make. THEN we need to know what he
wants to make.
Personally, 3D does not need to mean lots and lots of money anymore,
especially if you SEPERATE the Cad from the Cam a little. I found out
long ago that I prefer to have a seperate drawing program from the Cam.
For that, I like Rhino. Pretty big bang for the buck. I use various Cam
programs (some are Cad/Cam programs that I dislike the Cad in) to make
the toolpaths. In the near future, I want to Explore the MadCam plug-in
for Rhino, as it will let you use Rhino like a Cad/Cam program.
(Rhino can be as little as $250 if your a student - MadCam Plug-In is
$625)
> There is a low end CAM program from www.meshcam.com that some people use but
> as far as I can tell its more oriented to machining from bitmap inputs as
> opposed to a true 3D CAD design.
MeshCam can import a Bitmap as you indicate, but it also can use an
"STL" file to develop toolpaths from. It actually fills the needs of
many people, and is similar to Millwizzard and DeskProto (but cheaper).
So if you have a Cad program that can export STL files, your set
provided you can machine your part from one side at a time.
>
> Lastly, there is a "free" 3D CAD design program available from
> www.alibre.com , if you include the definition of "free" to include
> something that puts ads up in your face.
Ya,,, what a pain. Kind of like when Surfcam released a "Free" 2D
version.
> Unfortunately there's no free CAM
> component to the program, and adding that in puts you back up in the $1000.
> range.
There is a lot going on out there. For people to start out and cut
their teeth on this stuff, you can get by pretty cheaply. The other
day, I was noticing that NCPlot ($75) includes a DXF to G converter
built in. In the future, you just might see "sorting" or "Sequencing"
options similar to Sheetcam. While this is far short of a traditional
Cad/Cam programs, sometimes it is all you need to either get started or
make what you want to make.
Grummy
.
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