Mac CAD/CAM Finally!!!???? .....PLEASE HELP

[NardisAmps]

Hello,

This morning the Dell laptop that I was using for all of my CAD/CAM programming COMPLETELY CRASHED..... not to mention all of the personal photos and documents that are completely lost. I've had it a few years, and it worked OK during that time. However the ONLY reason I went with a PC in the first place was that all the CAD / CAM software I could find at that time (and even now for that matter) is PC based. Is this still the case?

Why is it that basically ALL the Pros in media / arts use Mac, yet when it comes to manufacturing, there seems to be nothing? You name it...all of the top Movie, Photo, and Audio editing are all done with Macs.

Then at the end of a long day of calling and looking for a new computer, a friend of mine who is vaguely familiar with Macs said that with the new Leopard OS that Mac uses you can ACTUALLY run Windows XP AND/OR Mac's OS!! Hence allowing you to run any PC / Windows based software! They even have an Intel Processor.

Is anyone out there familar with the compatability of this somewhat new possibility as it relates to CAD / CAM mfg?? If at all possible I would MUCH rather buy a Mac this time instead of another PC (Piece of Crap) that the new Vista only bogs down with a bunch of stuff thats not even being used. Currently I'm running OneCNC, but am looking to upgrade possibly to MasterCAM, or most likly FeatureCAM soon.

Any input in this area is greatly appreciated as I am currently without a design computer. Feel free to call with any discussion, or I can even return your call right away so the dime is on me. I have unlimited Long Distance.

Best Regards,
Nardis
270-576-7030

[IanS]

MacOS Leopard doesn't include anything new to allow you to run Windows apps at the same time as MacOS.

It does include a new thing called "BootCamp" which allows you to create a Windows partition on the harddrive and install Windows on to that partition and then boot into EITHER MacOS OR Windows. (but not both at the same time)

There is a thing called "Parallels software" which is a kind of Windows Emulator ( a virtual machine) that allows you to run windows and therefore windows software on MacOS. Paralles (and a few other virtual machines like that) have been around for years.

I'm not sure if it's DNC software what you're looking for but if it is then we (easydnc.com) have just released a version of our dnc software which runs native on MacOS http://www.macdnc.com It's a universal binary so runs on new Intel Macs as well as Older PPC Macs

As I said, I'm not sure if it's DNC software what you're looking for but, for now anyway, that software is free of charge so it won't cost you anything to try it.

[redcobra]

vmware will run any windows operating system inside mac without bootcamp another program is Parallel.

[maxbela]

I use Turbocad mac for drawing on a very high end mac and transfer to the cheapest PC I could find to do the cam work. The PC has no access to the outside world and has been stripped of every program except what it needs to create the G code and feed the controller. The result is no problems with viruses or other malware, therefore no need for virus protection programs which can interfere with cam software. If I need to upgrade something on the PC I download to the mac and scan it, only if it's clean do I transfer it across.
I know the PC people are going to hate this but I have used macs since the first 128k became available in UK in 1984. I have never ever crashed one.
I know its possible but it hasn't happened - yet.
The above system is obviously not ideal but it works. The PC is protected from everything but me and my mac is protected from the machinery and inevitable dust and oil etc.
One warning, if you do get a mac you will fall in love with it and they are addictive. I still have my 1984 128k and a floppy drive and it still works, I use it for printing triple copy invoices on a 1984 mac dot matrix printer.
Regards
Max.

[acondit]

I run VectorWorks 12.5 Design for CAD on my Mac mini. It has 2D, 3D and rendering. You can even go a little farther and add Renderworks to it. I use it to export the drawings as dxf for transformation to gcode.

You can also export or import dxf, dwg, igs, and stp files.

The problem is that it cost around $1400 a few years ago when I bought it. There is a new release out but I cant afford to spend another $400 right now.

Alan

[Dan B]

Rhino for the Mac is currently under development. Check this out:

www.irhino3d.com


Dan

[bilinghm]

[QUOTE=maxbela;402905]I use Turbocad mac for drawing on a very high end mac and transfer to the cheapest PC I could find to do the cam work.

This is exactly what I plan to do. I am running OSX in several versions including leopard. I use Turbocad with good results in 2D. Are you making 3D wireframes? Any advice on a PC that will get the job done?

Thanks,

Bill

[casta-baga]

Originally Posted by Dan B Rhino for the Mac is currently under development. Check this out: www.irhino3d.com Dan

thank you,
I'm trying it ... impressive... I like it so far allot...

I use Mastercam, AutoCad and been progressing on DelCam [powershape and powermill] that I like for some reason but this Rhinoceros is just something extraordinary to work with; I'm going to focus on this one for now and see what can I get from it in general design.

I use windows Sucks at work and Mac+Alinex at home

have a good design

[ProUser]

The Largest and Best Collection of 3D CAD/CAM/CAE Software for Mac OS X

[cncjunky]

I prefer windows over all, but know a buddy who loves the mac's and cad/cam software, he swears by them being way better then windows. He says that with windows he was having crashes all the time and with mac he has'nt had no problems. He runs a big cnc gantry laser system and punches and presses with mac and I guess never has problems with the system or finding cad/cam programs to run on it. My opinion is still windows hands down for me, but I don't have to much experience with mac, nor do I plan too.

[acondit]

Originally Posted by cncjunky I prefer windows over all, but know a buddy who loves the mac's and cad/cam software, he swears by them being way better then windows. He says that with windows he was having crashes all the time and with mac he has'nt had no problems. He runs a big cnc gantry laser system and punches and presses with mac and I guess never has problems with the system or finding cad/cam programs to run on it. My opinion is still windows hands down for me, but I don't have to much experience with mac, nor do I plan too.

Most of the people who prefer windows haven't really used Mac much or at all. I have used both and I hate having to fire up windows.

Alan

[gperrine]

I run Autodesk Inventor, Mechanical Desktop, AutoCad and EdgeCam on my Macbook Pro. I am using Parallels software as the virtual interface and Windows XP pro as the operating system.

I run the same software on my Dell M65 laptop and can tell you the Mac outperforms Dell machine and is much more stable. I don't know of any windows applications that would not run with this setup. I can even VPN out through the windows virtual machine and transfer files when I'm not at the office.

My computer frustration level is now at an all time low with the Mac ...now if I can just find a Post for EdgeCam and a Dynapath DMC500 mill with a Dynapath delta 2000 controller.