Using PC2k for CNC programs ?

[dave market]

I am preparing to tackle CNC programing at our small toolmaking facility. We are in research mode, and I am wanting to stay with PowerCadd and Mac. I would appreciate any advice, experiences, resources etc.
PC has worked well for the 4 years we have used it, hate to lose to the "dark side" and have to learn Acad. Thanks in advance for help!

[Bo]

Dave, you noted, "I am preparing to tackle CNC programing at our small toolmaking facility. We are in research mode, and I am wanting to stay with PowerCadd and Mac."

I was in the same position in the late 90s. Tried several things, but had to leave the Mac for everything but 3D Solids. Tried SDRC/Artisan & Ashlar (still viable on the Mac & then using Gibbs CAD/CAM on a PC).

Eventually I went to SolidWorks for all the 3D uses of Rapid Prototyping, 2D Patent Drawing wireframes (cleaned up in PowerCADD imported from dxf from Solidworks), FEA Analysis of molded plastic parts, and CNC maching of tooling and molds.

I taught myself how to use SolidWorks from their tutorials and manual, but if you can get into their training classes you can pick up essential details faster I suspect. There are file, library, PDM, backup and networking organizational choices and issues that you need to address up front for a multi-seat installation or one that will become a network of users.

The Gibbs CAD/CAM (http://www.gibbsnc.com/) package was just bought by a friend of mine running a tooling & mold shop for $14,000 on my recommendation, as I used to use it in my own shop until I sold it. He was absolutely astounded at its productivity, compared to his prior manual programming. His first job was a 16 cavity face mask mold, where he more than recovered the price of Gibbs in the profit off the first job he did with it (couldn't have bid the job profitably without Gibbs).

SolidWorks now has about 300,000 seats in use and at about $4000 is the easies to learn that I (& a lot of others) have found. Their "Office" version adds usable "Add-ons" that I consider very useful. SolidWorks uses the Unigraphics Parasolid 3D kernal, which is used by a wide range of 3D software firms. Solidworks has a wide range of integrated "Gold Partner" add-on software, and I think Gibbs is one of them. http://www.solidworks.com will get you to their VARs. USENET = comp.cad.solidworks.

If you check your suppliers and vendors you may find a lot of them using SolidWorks. I just talked to a mold shop in San Diego last week about a new mold quote, and he noted about 80% of the toolmakers he knows use SolidWorks in his area.

Some people think I'm nuts for running Mac & PC, but I find it rather seamless at this point. The Mac does almost everything but SolidWorks, though I use MS Office a bit on the PC. I find that if I limit the PC use to strictly 3D business, I have none of the virus and other downtime that other PC users complain about.

Some Mac users think I've "gone over", but this is just business. In fact, the Mac is still my most used machine as all photos, brochure illustration, 2D CAD with PowerCADD, patent images, original idea layouts, and research are all done on the Mac.

Bo

[Bill Stanley]

Dave,

What type of CNC work are you planning? Don’t most CNC m-code (g-code) generators (the back end module) accept DXF and DWG input?

Just curious.

Thanks.


Bill Stanley

[Bo]

Indeed any 2D program like PowerCADD which can export a dxf file can be imported into a CNC program to generate a single 2D path.

The information for a cut is much larger than one path however, even on simple parts. With a path you need to know:

1. Is that to be cut inside of the dxf path or outside

2. Is the cutter to climb cut or up cut

3. Is the path completely closed 'exactly' at all corners

4. Is material going to be left for finish cut

So many choices are made including material for cutter speed, cutter type, and a look at cutter radius versus part radii, etc., that manual programming just isn't practical on a time basis.

When you get to even simple 3D shapes with conical (drafted) curved surfaces you quickly enter an area where manual programming with 2D paths becomes impossible manually. Even simple parts can be done better with a 3D solids model as a basis, since chamfers and radii can be put in which often are often otherwise put in by hand, and it often makes for a better faster more professional looking part.

3D solids as a basis for import into a 3D CNC package does all the cross checking, makes sure all data needed is there and verifies the operators decisions with a virtual "machining" of the virtual 'raw stock' on screen before going to the CNC machine.

Bo

[Kevin]

We've also found that today's potentially runway costs of Windows support can be held finite by using Windows machines for specific defined and limited purposes, where necessary, while using Macs for everything else - communications, drawing/drafting, architectural modeling, visual design, etc. etc.

[dave market]

Bo; Thanks for the info. Solidworks looks to be a good choice for us, not as "bloated" as some other CadCam packages, with good support (a familiar feature around here).
Have you, or anyone, heard anything about Bobcam software ? A representative there indicated that their full featured app. would run well on the Mac in Virtual pc. [/u]

[Bo]

Bobcam is not a name I have run across before. If you get a "non-name brand" CAM, you will probably have more of a learning curve when you bring in new people, who haven't seen it or run it before.

MasterCAM & Gibbs are 2 that are often used by people using SolidWorks, just from my experience talking to moldmakers, but I got out of machining. Getting CAM software to really hum right takes many years of refinements.

From experience, I can say that the lowest cost CAM software is going to have a lot of limitations on the features and subtlety involved in making sure parts are cut right under all conditions.

I would really want to see the software in action at one of the VAR vendor's end-user customers, just like you, so I can talk to them and get the good and bad straight from the horses mouth.

[Bo]

Bobcam is not a name I have run across before. If you get a "non-name brand" CAM, you will probably have more of a learning curve when you bring in new people, who haven't seen it or run it before.

MasterCAM & Gibbs are 2 that are often used by people using SolidWorks, just from my experience talking to moldmakers, but I got out of machining. Getting CAM software to really hum right takes many years of refinements.

From experience, I can say that the lowest cost CAM software is going to have a lot of limitations on the features and subtlety involved in making sure parts are cut right under all conditions.

I would really want to see the software in action at one of the VAR vendor's end-user customers, just like you, so I could talk to them and get the good and bad straight from the horses mouth.