Is anyone using BobCam? How is it?

I am a volunteer moderator at www.bobcad.com forums, and so I have experience with the software. Anyone can visit those forums to see a more indepth discussion of what is going on in particular.

People who are new to the field need to start somewhere, and depending on your needs, Bobcad could be a good place to start. I'm not going to pretend that it does everything, but you get what you pay for.

Currently, it is, I feel, quite good in the drawing capabilities in the 2d field. It has a certain logic to its CAD that appeals to certain people, and I find it quite intuitive to get on to. Maybe that's because I've been using it for years :D

Bobcad can do some 3d stuff if you get a good wireframe model and if you're patient enough (and don't want to spend any more money), but personally, I've switched to OneCNC for 3d models, and am greatly impressed with its ease of handling 3d models, imported in iges format.

What Bobcad ver18 does offer that is perhaps unique, is its scripting capabilities. I have written a few scripts that take care of the more mundane 2d type jobs that come in the door. This fills a niche in today's requirements for speedier programming, since it was getting to the point that simple jobs were taking longer to create programs for than complex 3d models were!

With scripting, a person can take your typical post driver and augment its output with scripts that will make use of your controllers built in routines, things that most CAM software today ignores.

HU,
I visited your friends at Bobcad booth at Westec yesterday.
Got an offer to become a reseller. Ive used the software before
but i'll have to pass. It is worth what you pay and then some,
lots of new features and just keeps geting better.

Hardmill
I currently use Bobcad ver.17&18. I am giving SERIOUS consideration to changing to onecnc. I am still reviewing their fred download but it looks real promsing. E-mail directly for further comments
Fred T

Originally posted by Fred T
Hardmill
I currently use Bobcad ver.17&18. I am giving SERIOUS consideration to changing to onecnc. I am still reviewing their fred download but it looks real promsing. E-mail directly for further comments
Fred T


What do you like more about the ONEcnc program than the BOBcad program?

One always wants to consider the learning curve
when it comes to any software. Before you jump
make sure of what your doing. Where I do'nt wish
to be a reseller for them I still think it's a great product.
You already know it so it makes it that much more
valuable.:p

You couldn't ask for a better software transition than going from Bobcad to Onecnc.

IMO, Bobcad is an excellent package to start on, if you are totally green at CADCAM and want something to "teethe" on.

Onecnc is like "Bobcad's daddy", but there are some strong similarities between the way that the programs work, enough so that I was able to generate a 300,000 line program from a CAD model with only an hour of poking around with the Onecnc demo, not even doing all the tutorials first. This same part I had tried to "skin" in Bobcad for over 30 hours, but there wasn't really a hope in hell (pardon my french) that Bobcad would ever do it.

However, not everyone needs a full fledged 3d program right off the bat. I machined for years with only Bobcad, because that's all my customers required of me.

So if the amount of money spent isn't of paramount importance, choose Onecnc (its not that expensive). If you feel like you're on a tight budget, and don't have a need for complex 3d milling, Bobcad may get you by for a while until you want to grow into something better. But what you save in $$ on Bobcad, you may very well spend in your time.

Hi,

I have both 17 & 18. I also own OneCnc Mill Poffesional. There is no comparison in my opinion. No matter what you do in Bobcad, It can be done better and easier in OneCnc. The cam side is so much easier to use. You don't have to draw toolpaths with onecnc, however for those special cases you can. And when it comes to skins in bobcad, hang it up. You can create wireframe and surface much faster with onecnc. You will be cutting chips instead of creating skins and toolpaths. Your produtivity will increase tremendously. For what it's worth in productivity forget bobcad and buy onecnc.

Ken

Well as I stated I am still messing with the free download and the tutorials but at first glance the solid/surfacing looks real good. I also was real impressed withthe ability to program the 4th axix and wrap text on it. I hope that the nc code would be right but the drawing was real easy.I have not made up my mind as of yet becaues I don't need a lot of 3d stuff. I guess the thing that puts me off the most is the lack of followup on the customer support at Bobcad. Conversly, the sales guy from Onecnc called and sheesh I talked to him for quite a while. He didnt seem like a pushy salsman at all. He promised not to bug me but to do his job and I have to respect that. Time will tell .
Fred T

When I chose a cnc router, I picked one from Bobcad because of the price. Since I was near the west coast office, Bob Twaalhoven(The Bob) was the one who checked the installation and provided the first tutorials. That helped a lot in getting me started. If he hadn't provided the service personally, I know I wouldn't have gotten as far as fast. Fortunately, OneCNC is built on the base code of BobCad, so the transition was easy. I feel bad for Bob that his product doesn't perform at the level OneCNC does, but I had to move on. Bobcad would be good for any 2-1/2 D cutting, but not a money maker for 3D shapes I am working on now. I hope the toolpath options of the XP version will allow me to go to the next level.

Guy's, Don't make the mistake of dropping BobCAD, as the next version will have you kicking yourselves if you do. There are other features of BobCAD V18 that make it superior to other software that you may have overlooked. I personally can't fault the tech support given from BobCAD, in my view it is second to none, and the price of it is actually affordable unlike others.

Welcome to the forum Kookaburra

Thanks Steve,

Looking forward to talking with all of you.

I've been using BobCad 15 (I know I'm behind) for a few years now for programming my 2-axis EDM. It works great for that. Very simple.

I'm using BobWIRE 16.1 it is nice and simple.

Klox

There are thousands of BobCAD fans all over the world, It's great to hear from some of you on this thread. Keep it up BobCAD fans!!

Durkee and Klox, an upgrade to BobWIRE may be available shortly, keep up the good work Guy's.

I was playing around with the 4th axis conversion facility in version 18 over the weekend, man it's powerful, 3-D shapes wrapped around a cylinder, AWESOME. Great stuff is BobCAD and still a great price.

Word is, a free patch is soon to be released for Version 18 users, I will let you all know when it is available.

Happy Easter to all!!

I have spent two solid years of extensive research and testing of some of the most popular Cad/Cam software available on the market, for the software that best met my needs and offered the most value for the money. I overlooked PowerStation by Microcimm at first and extreemly underestimated their software and did not give them much of an evaluation (Big Mistake) and spent hundreds of hours going over the different tutorials with Bob Cad, One CNC, Gibbs, MasterCam & VariCut to mention a few but to answer you question IMO BobCad I did not like at all, drawing tool paths just did not make sence to me, I is bad evough I even have to draw the part at times. I prefurr importing a .DXF file and generating my toolpath from that from that. Post the code, download to machine, pick up my zero, set my toll offsets, Done. Push the button & walk away. I want to get in & get out time is money I dont want to be drawing tool paths and hope I did it right. you get what you pay for with BobCad. OneCNC a great product nicely set up. But it will cost you especially if you want any other moduals you pay for Mill, Lathe & Wire seporately. and if I am not mistaken you have to pay for a post processor also but I could be wrong it has been a while. Anyway at the end of my search and almost bald from pulling my hair out, PowerStation came out with a solids varification modual for their product. (I was the first to purchase a prerelease version) BINGO It was easy to use & I was machining parts in no time. I believe for under $1700.00 and you have all you'll need Milling, Lathe, Wire & an excelent engraving package art work engraving scaning converting raster to vector all within the same software. I must say I wish I never overlooked this software in the begining I would have saved myself alot of time. You can download a demo with tutorials at. http://www.microcimm.com/index.htm Paul, Dont underestimate the value here like I did at first. I do alot of CNC lathe work and CNC Milling, PowerStation has improved my capabuilities in leaps & bounds.

Lenny

Bobcad ?:confused:

BobCAD for many others :D

What does Onecnc cost?
I like bobcad, it is the intuitive cad program I've used and for what I do it is more than enough. I think to choose the right software for you you have to establish what you need and then pick. Sorry for my bad spelling by the way.
Randy

Hi Randy,
The main goal here at BobCAD-CAM is to provide effective PC based CNC programming software that is both easy to use and that is affordable for a shop to purchase. OneCNC is another CAD-CAM system that is avaiable on the market for programming.

What version of BobCAD-CAM do you use?
CNC Dude

CNC Dude
I have had V19 for 2-3 months and I must say that the manuals and tutors are great. I just ordered V20 today after playing with demo (I could,nt pass up on the price). For me the program just flows, by the way I have not used onecnc, but have used other cadcams but this is hands down the winner. I say this in the context of what my level of need is in cadcam.
Randy

The hold up for me is the costs. These softwares are very expensive. I am considering at the Bobcad hobby version - but it is still very costly for me. How does everyone do it with the costs being so high?

Hi Studysession,
When it comes to cost vs. functionality, V20 offers an exceptional value. Try the demo. However, you msy not need solids technology. You may only need something basic. Our sales staff are available to answer any questions that you may have in regards to the right software for your applications. Don't hesitate to email me as well if you have any unanswered questions that I may be able to assist you with.
Sincerely,
CNC Dude

For what bobcad costs(v19) its not too bad, I have not been a big fan though. I have used a few other cam packages, nothing too great. From my short experience, the one thing I dont like about bobcad is that you have to do a lot more work to make the toolpath and make it right.

In order to make a pocket in the program, I had to unstitch a solid, color the peice I wanted, then extract the edges, color them and then I had to go into the pocket program with those lines to make the part. I then had to go into the nc editor, set the paramaters for depth and feeds and all that.
I personally believe that the program should set the depth and all from the drawing, it should also have the pocket command which then asks you what you want to pocket and what you want to leave out rather than having to go through all the steps.

One thing that I do like is bobart, It does do a good job.

Jon

I can see where you're coming from on the pocketing thing in V19. Try the V20 demo. You don't have to do so much. There is also a profile machining wizard in the CAM machine menu as well. The list of improvements in V20 is long and well worth the cost. Also, you don't have to unstitch the entire solid. Just unstitch the surface you want to machine and use the to part edge option. Try this in V20. You have more tools, can program off of the tool tip or tool center as well as use the new simulation features. I'm sure that you will find this beneficial.
Sincerely,
CNC Dude

New here. Does BobCAD update the software with any regularity to add features and provide good value to the user? Or do they have the same product that they've been selling for a long time. I see various referenced around this board suggesting both.

Also, does BobCAD take as input any kind of solid model file exported by things like Autodesk Inventor?

Thanks,
Tom

Even before I bought my CNC machine, I used bobcad just to get a feel for it. I use Autocad to draw both my 2d and 3d parts.

V20 will open dwg files from Autocad with out converting to dxf. This really helps, it was confusing haveing both a dwg, and dxf version of the same file.

I find it very simple to generate g-code using bob-cad, and I like to use the "Geometry from g-code" command. I usally do that before sending the code to the router. If there is a proplem I can catch it before I ruin my part.

Several time I have had problems with pocketing. Once I got so fed up with with trying to get Bobcad's pocketing command to work, that I took the file back into Autocad and created my own pocketing tool path with an exploded hatch and alternated connecting the end points. Then took it back into Bobcad and generated the G-code.

The point I am trying to make is that BobCad can usally do what you need it to do, but I would not feel comfortable counting on the cad side 100%. If I did not have a back up Cad program like Autocad I would have been in trouble several times. But for generating g-code, I have never had a problem with Bobcad.

Gina

Several times I have had problems with pocketing. Once I got so fed up...Gina

The pocketing problem seems to come up a lot in discussions about BobCAD. What is the nature of the problem, and can you catch the problem before any metal is wasted?

Thank you for your kind reply.
Tom

Tom,

Yes, you can always catch it before machining. The tool path for the pocket lines go right thru portions of the text. You will see it right away.

Some times the pocket command works sometimes it doesn't. I think it depends on the text font. Some people think it is importing text from another program. Yet I have created all my text in BobCad and then vectorized the text, and still had the same problem with pocketing.

My guess is that since there has been much discussion on the pocket problem, BobCad must be aware of it. Hopefully they will fix it in V21.

With the combination of AutoCad and BobCad I have not miss a dead line yet. If you can not afford Autocad they make several low cost cad packages ($200-$500) that will do just about every AutoCad will do.


Gina

The AutoCAD thing is not a problem. I have Inventor which came with a version of AutoCAD called Mechanical Desktop 2005. Though in a roundabout way you can export 2D drawings from Inventor if need be.

So to be clear, the problem is pockets in the shape of text?

And since you mentioned V21, how long is the interval between versions in BobCAD and in your experience is there really much improvement from version to version?

Again, thanks for taking the time to respond.
Tom

The V20 pocketing functions should work fine. We did have some issues in the V18 product that we have addressed. Currently we have adressed an issue that involved the UCS and pocket toolpath where if you had moved the UCS the lead-in/out would result incorrectly. This has been fixed and is scheduled to be released in a live update soon along with a few other small things that needed fixing. If you import geometry in the form of a DWG or DXF file for pocketing and have trouble creating toolpath you will want to see that there are not double entities. You can delete the double entity and the pocketing operation will work perfect every time. You can also perform a "Cleanup & Optimize" to correct this problem as well which is a function located in the CHANGE menu in the Reorganize sub-menu. Currently I am looking into some of the items brought up in this forum to test them and discover if in fact there are bugs. Sometimes what will happen is a bug will be reported that isn't a bug but is a lack of a specific function or is actually a user training issue. In the software world, these 3 scenarios exist. Right wrong or whatever, we are only interested in the end user being successful with BobCAD-CAM products and cutting parts. This is ultimately what it's all about. I have seen it where someone starts posting data about a "bug" and starts getting nasty and then another person who has personal issues with BobCAD-CAM as an organization that are un-addressed will "feed the fire" by saying how worthless the software is. OK. You guys didn't get to where you are today by being nasty. In my opinion and experience software issues can be resolved faster without the nasty. However, if the software did something it shouldn't have, let's get it ironed out. On that note, let's move on. Currently the roughing toolpath function does not offer methods or different options for linking the steps or passes. The tool comes out, rapids back to the start point of the toolpath and proceeds. Dashed lines are rapid moves and bring the tool to clearance before going back across the part.
CNC Dude

CNCDude
Well said, I get so tired of people panning things without being contructive. I always get help with issues from Bobcad. I have no regrets in purchasing my version 20 software.
Randy

So to be clear, the problem is pockets in the shape of text?

And since you mentioned V21, how long is the interval between versions in BobCAD and in your experience is there really much improvement from version to version?

Tom,
Yes to be clear I only have problems pocketing with text. Then again I normally do not pocket any thing else.

As for how often they update bobcad, I can only share my experince. I got V19 about a year ago. They updated to v20 and I paid 400 for the upgrade. I really didn't notice much diffrence but then again I use Autocad for the cad side. I am a marine systems designer and have been using Autocad for over 18 years so there is really no point of me learning the cad side of BobCad.

They have up graded Bob Art twice since I purchase V!9. BobArt is an optional package that will vectorize rasters. The first upgrade I got the last one I didn't.

Oh by the way I do use the optimize and clean up every time. I don't know why it works with some fonts and not with others.

Gina



Gina

CnCDude,

I guess you must work for bobcad. Anyway I write piping programs for the offshore industry and I hate fixing bugs. I never say any thing works, I always say it "appears to work when I use it".

I went back and tried to reproduce the problem on a new file. I used "Victorian LET" as the font (Client choice). Made a box around the text and used horizontal pocketing. Yes it worked fine, no problems.

Then I remembered my sign was oriented 90 degrees. So I did the same thing use "Victorian Let" text font, selected 90 as my angle, created a box around it. Then used the horizontal pocket command. It no longer worked fine. The pocket lines started to go thru the text. Maybe that is where the bug is.

I'm sorry if you think I was talking badly about BobCad. It was not my intension. I'm so used to talking about bugs in programs, that I am completely emotional detached when I talk about software. I just share my experince, and for the most part I have had a good experince with bobcad.

Gina

Hi GinaMC,
I'm not upset at all. If there's a bug, there's a bug and it should be fixed. When you do your pocketing, the outer boundary geometry and any island geometry needs to be on the same plane equal at whatever Z-level you have. Even if you have rotated geometry around the Z axis with the above in mind you will get accurate toolpath. Try this. Yes, I work here at BobCAD-CAM. But even if I didn't I would have responded the same way or would have just left the forum.
CNC Dude

Cnc Dude

I explained how I did it. Straight from Bob cad not importing a Dxf file. I did not change my "z" elevation. I only selected 90 degrees for the text angle in the text box dialog. Are you saying that the "Z" elevation changes with out any action on the user part? Maybe that could be the bug. Anyway my positon stands. I said many good things about Bobcad in my orginal post, my only complaint was that some times the pocket command works and sometimes in doesn't.

As far as importing from Autocad and double entities, my opinion is this. If my client has a DXF file, and I tell them that is no proplem, the software I use excepts Dxf. Then I expect the function to work. If I have to take it into another progam like AutoCad to preform the task bobcad was suppose to do, I concider that a bug in bobCad. Regardless of the reason Bobcad may give. If someone is asking for an opinion on thier experince with Bobcad that is what I will tell them. I beleive that was the orginal question. "Who uses Bobcad and what do they think?"


My over all experince with Bobcad has been very good. I wish the Pocket command work 100% of the time. Even if importing from other programs. Calling customer support all the time is not an option for me.

Cnc One.

Here are the files I was trying to pocket.

The first file text.dwg is from the orginal sign. I do the text in AutoCad because they have a center justify. Then export to bobcad and use the vectorize text command.
The pocket command does not work on this file.

The next file I went back into autocad and used the autocad boundary command. This command will find a boundry and make one entity. This command should elimate the duplicate entity problem if it exists. Then I go back into Bobcad and for what ever reason The text is several objects again. The pocket command does not work on this file.

The final file was done completly in Bobcad. I had to move the text around to center it because bobcad does not have a center justify. All objects are on the same plane. The pocket command will not work on this file either.

I am using a 0.078 tool, and .03 step over. Maybe I could have use a bigger bit, but the text font was so complicated I did not want to hack off the scrolls on some of the text.

Anyway if you can get the pocket command to work on these file, please let me know what you did.

Ginamc
Nice post, I agree completly.
Randy

AutoCAD's boundary command creates a duplicate object on top of the original that you used to create the boundary from. Also, if you use AutoCAD's explode text command, that can create duplicate lines in the text. If you're using the boundary command, create a new layer and make it current before using the boundary command. After creating the boundaries, turn off the current layer and delete everything else. Then turn the layer back on and save. See if that helps.

Duplicate entities are a problem in any cam software. When a tool path is being calculated, the software needs a clean chain to perform it's function. If you are new to an area and you drive up to an intersection that has two roads coming off it and the names of the streets are the same and all the houses in both streets are the same with the same street numbers, how do you know which one to go down. If autocad is outputting duplicate entities, then, in my eyes it is a problem with autocad, not bobcad.

CNC Dude,

Maybe BobCAD should have a function called, DELETE DUPLICATE ENTITIES. I do know that other software has such a function for the same reason as the pocketing problem people are experiencing. Just a thought. Maybe the cleanup and optimize function does this, not sure, but it may need to be addressed.

I used mastercam in industry from V3.1 through to V8 and had problems with duplicate entities all the way through, so it is not just a problem with BobCAD.

Dave

If autocad is outputting duplicate entities, then, in my eyes it is a problem with autocad, not bobcad.



I possibly worded that wrong. It doesn't create dupicate objects. If you happen to create duplicat objects on your own, it's gonna save whatever you created.
It's not a problem, it works as intended. It's just that it's intended use is different than what it's being used for. :)

AutoCAD is not exporting duplicate objects. The problem lies in Bobcad. I can export the dxf file and bring it into Rhino 3d and it is still a single object. I can import it into 3d Max as a single entity. Bobcad is the only cad package that imports the file and creates multiple entities not duplicate entities. I have no idea why bobcad does that. Just because Bobcad breaks the object into several entities I see no evidence that any of the entities are duplicate. If is more like when you vectorize text in Bobcad.

Also in AutoCAD you can use layers. So when I use the boundary command I am on another layer. After creating my boundaries, I freeze the boundary layer, and erase the original objects. Then thaw the boundary layer. This leaves me with only the single entity boundary text I have created. I then use the list command. This will give me a total entity count. So when I export out they are absolutely a single entity.

I don’t think the problem is in AutoCAD, because how would that explain the file that was done completely in Bobcad not working? Are you implying that just having AutoCAD on the same computer with bobcad will effect bobcad? Does Bobcad need a dedicated computer? Does any one else has problems with AutoCAD on the same computer as bobcad? I use other cad packages on the same computer, Bobcad is the only one that is having problems. AutoCAD does not seem to effect the other cad programs.

Also the comment that I am not using the boundary command as it was intended. What does that mean? Do you have inside information? Please don’t keep me waiting in the dark, do tell what is AutoCAD's intension for the Boundary command.

Let’s think…. Could it be to create a single boundary of an enclosed area, even if it is made up of several entities. What one does with the boundary after it has been created, I don’t think AutoDesk has placed any restrictions on that.

The command is used for many things, in fact it started with the bhatch command. The “b” is for boundary the “hatch” is for hatch, put them together its “bhatch”. I hope AutoCAD is using this as it was intended. The bhatch will create an internal boundary for an enclose area and create a fill pattern, very similar to pocketing. I would think the algorithm for hatching would be similar for pocketing. Perhaps Bobcad could find out the algorithm AutoCAD uses. Several programs have hatching routines that run flawlessly. Bobcad might want to check some of them out. I have also used the boundary command to quickly create an internal enclosed area, then from that boundary, make a region. From the region I can extract the mass property like center of gravity. Some times I even extract the area from the boundary. I am confused to why you believe that there is some limited intended purpose for this command. Please elaborate how making a single enclosed boundary from exploded text is not what the boundary command is intended for. Very odd thought.

Since I work in the design/drafting field, I have heard of people using the boundary command for many things. Its seems odd (and limited) that you think AutoCAD has some higher purpose, or designated intension for the boundary command. Very interesting.

We currently use solid cam. I was wondering is BOBCAM any good and does it perform better in a production environment?

I currently use BCC on an everyday basis. When I first started working with it almost a year ago, V22 was still brand new and buggy as hell. The company I work for is kinda cheap in this department and they got BCC for a 'deal', so it was what I had to use lol (didnt have much of a choice)

Over the last year or so, V22 has made leaps and bounds in the improvement area. I am completely satisfied with it and have no complaints at all. My previous experiences had been with MasterCAM mostly, and while BCC is no MasterCAM, it is definatelty worth the price.

I have customized all the posts that I use for the 30 some-odd machines we have, now BCC has most all posts readily available, and if you need one made they are very good with helping out (but I still recommend modifying your own post from a generic and sending it to them lol)

We use BCC on Hardinge VMC's, Brother D/TC's, a variety of Fanuc based turning centers and Swiss lathes.

Hope this was helpful :)

Thanks for your quick reply PinMan, it has been very helpful. Have you ever used solid works or solid cam? We are trying to compare the differences between the packages at the mo, to see if it's quicker with BOB CAM. At the moment I find it a lot quicker to program the machining centre's without the use of a cam package apart from when we have a complicated shapes and surfaces. Even when we have these complicated shapes, pocket geometries, etc I only use the cam package for that part of the product.
We were shown a live demo of BOB CAM yesterday from America and it did look quite impressive and productive.

Regards,
Justin Fuller

I have very limited experience with Solidworks and haven't used Solidcam.

ginamc,

I have looked at the file you posted. The Text.dwg file looks like it had some polyarcs or poly lines in it. Most of the time if you explode the chains into simple entities you can get a better import result.

With the text-bobcad-only file there needs to be some attention to the shapes. Almost all of the letters have self intersecting loops, zoom in close to a letter. This could be an artifact of the font you used, the style, the vectoriztion parameters or all of them combined. The old saying "garbage in/garbage out" comes to mind. This geometry is unsuitable for generating a toolpath. Which font were you using?

Regards