I have been using TurboCAD since version 3. No expert but gets the CAD work done. I now have a 2.5d mill and have tried TurboCADCAM to make machine code. I have tried v12 and now v15 and their correct CAM plug-ins.

When I do a chain mill offset, the resulting mill path is centered on the chosen contour without offsetting. The tool offset shows in several places where you can view and edit the offset and the tool path doesn't change when the offset number is edited. Dropping the code into a third party CAM to backplot the code shows bad resulting code (disjointed segments).

Basically my question is if there is anyone out there acutally using TCC to chain mill offset contours? What versions work?

I am starting to believe the CAM doesn't work and people just give up on it rather than report issues.

I noticed with the new v15 that a simple drawing caused one of the fillets to appear and disappear when zoomed (never seen that one before). When converting a contour to a polyline, two polylines were created (meaning there were now three polylines, two need to be removed, the remove original button doesn't work and it is near impossible to decide which polylines need to be removed. With a chain mill operation, a symbol called a "camentrypoint", basically a red arrow, is placed at the tool entry point but doesn't scale when zoomed (stays the same size) and are left behind to be manually cleaned up if the toolpath is deleted.

Some incredably flakey stuff...and I don't have anymore time/interest to fix someone elses product.

I had this same problem using version 11 and found that by zooming in and then selecting the path it was offset correctly. I have not used the program much but have programmed some really good stuff for the mill I use at work. I'm still in the learning mode and always will be but can get it done using turbocad/cam.
Hope this helps

I'm using version 14 and entering the gcode into Mach3 on a cnc router and bed mill and have not problems....though it is only 2.5d...

Regards,

Preston

Im useing turbocad pro15, I hate to put down a product but I have seen it do many a crazy thing. I feel this program was a complete waste of money and time spent learning.

I've been using TurboCAD also and it has certainly almost put me over the edge many times. But for the cost and the fact that I'm finding it harder to learn new tricks, I've decided to use a little bit of brute force and ignore to make it work for me.

I'm certainly no CAD or CAM expert, but I've been able to get some decent results as shown by the attachment. I do usually edit the g-code afterwards though and don't always understand why it does certains things in regard to z-axis changes and homing but I've gotten use to removing those lines. I'm sure one day I will figure it out though.

Best Regards.

Carl

I have been using TC for several years and added the CAM plugin a few years ago. All in all, I am very happy with TC (I am presently using version 15.2). As for as CAM goes, I am currently using version 3.5. I must say that the CAM plug in has its issues, but I have learned to overcome most of them. I use it a lot for creating G code for Mach 3 Mill and also for my Kitamura MY0 with a Yaznak MX-3 controller. I have customized the plug-in G-code generation using the setup facilities provided in the plug in with good results. My biggest complaint is that IMSI (or whoever wrote this Plug in) has done NOTHING to enhance it in the years that I have owned it. Evertime I upgrade TCC, I need to buy the new compatibility release of the plug in and I have yet to see a single new feature (or even obvious bugs or oversights fixed) in new releases. This is most frustrating. For 3d tool paths, I use MeshCAM and am very happy with it. Talk about a program that is constantly being improved - MeshCAM - a great value. So if you like TCC for CAD and need to do CAM, buy the CAM plug in, be patient, experiment, optimize the code generator for your controller or personal preferences. If you hang in there, you will get the job done.