edgecam users

[timf]

are there many edgecam users out there?
someone told me they were the 3rd largest in world now.

i've been using it for about 4 years now and i really like it.

i haven't ran into anything i couldn't figure out yet.

i do alot of 3-d and prototype work off of customer files and the only thing i wish it did better(more types) is open files from different softwares.

it has a nice list but i want it all.

[Klox]

timf,
tell us more about EdgeCAM, do you have the part modeller as well?

Klox

[timf]

no i don't have the part modeler, but the only design i do is for myself (fixtures and such)and i have become handy with regular edgecam enough that it does the job fine.
sometimes i redraw the part i'm making in 3-d just to get a good feel for it before i start processing it.

the one thing that i found was alot easier compared to the old smartcam i used is 3-d machining.
edgecam has some cool cycles for toolpath when doing 3-d contours.

the classes i took from the reseller were:
basic mill, basic lathe, basic wire, advanced lathe,surfacing, advanced surfacing, code generator.

i mostly use the milling packages the most and only dabble in lathe and wire, i have guys in charge of those deptartments that take care of it themselves, i only took the classes as back up for them.

i didn't have a hard time switching over from smartcam which is what i used before edgecam.

is there anything you had in mind about edgecam that you would like to know.

[ty1295]

I am an edgecam guy myself. 3yrs and counting.

I use it for lathe, mill, and edm although all relatively simple.

I have found the software to be very easy to use. It isn't a drawing program though. I use inventor for that.

[Dirt Rider]

Hi, I just got a demo of edgecam yesterday, and I was impressed by the lathe module, supporting very complex machines. But the mill demo was about 5 minutes... So I have a few questions.

I only use solid models, not interested to go back to 2D. How's the capabilities of solid machining? Do you keep having to draw geometry and boundaries and other stuff? Does the software know what's machined and what's not (aware of volumes between stock and part machined so far)? How does it deal with multiple instances of 1 part on a tombstone? How about workshift definition, can you assign workshift to each part and choose the name of it too?

Those would help me decide... I tried CamWorks and liked it too. It's not perfect though. Didn't like GibbsCam at all. I'm using SmartCam right now and sick of it.

Any comments on EdgeCam is appreciated, thanks a lot!

[Sabre]

We have the whole package, I am due for a training class in a couple of weeks.

So far Part Modeler is ok but no Solidworks.

How do you draw threads in PM ?

[Dirt Rider]

In case you were asking me, I got no clue. I use SolidWorks. But your comments on the CAM side would be appreciated!

[timf]

dirt rider

i feel like it will do all the things you asked, but i don't do them myself to explain them to you.

contact a reseller in your area and take him some file to show you what it can do.
depending on what package you purchase, it do a good job with solids.

i don't work with alot of solids myself but i do get them from customers sometimes and i don't have trouble with them.

it does have tools for extracting wire from the solids you have for paths, boundries, or reference.
it also has some auto feature finder tools that identify the features of your solid.

i also was a smartcam user before we got edgecam and i didn't find the transition to rough.
so far it has a function for everything i was used to in smartcam, it is just layed out different.
i have not used multiple offsets in edgecam but i'm sure it is possible.
it does have features for translating toolpath at defined spacing like a program loop.
you can import your own shape for definition of stock or fixtures or create simple ones in edgecam for the program verification.

like i said the fellows that sold us ours were very good at showing off the capabilities of the software so get with your reseller and tell him want you want to see.
watching someone use the software to do what you ask is much more impressive than any prerecorded demo.

hope i got to all your questions
tim

[wireguy]

We use edgecam for wire mostly 2d but trying to learn the 4axis wire. The reseller dosent know the wire side of it. So have had to try to learn myself. We would like to get mill package but looking at mastercam. I took a edgecam class at a local college for mill and lathe but the instructer was learning it as he was teaching it. Wish it wasnt so expensive.

[Scott_bob]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dirt Rider

I only use solid models, not interested to go back to 2D. How's the capabilities of solid machining? Do you keep having to draw geometry and boundaries and other stuff? Does the software know what's machined and what's not (aware of volumes between stock and part machined so far)? How does it deal with multiple instances of 1 part on a tombstone? How about workshift definition, can you assign workshift to each part and choose the name of it too?

Must be nice to only program from solids...
I wish I could ansewer your questions about knowledge of stock remaining. Imo, if your models are complex, then Edgecam is not as good as other mid level PC based Cam packages. One exception would be if you do multi-axis turning, then Edgecam is very good.

For me the mold machining tool paths are not up to what I expect. Functional but not good enough. HSM routines are not even good.

I also don't use their tool libraries or stategy manager as I have created my own custom automation stuff kinda like visual basic...

Good luck,
Scott_bob

[MaxxMan-X]

Hi, I'm interested in edgecam and I've looked all over the internet and I can't find out how much it costs. How much was it (if you don't mind) Oh, can you select features on a part and only machine the ones selected? Thanks

[ty1295]

Pricing all depends on options, etc.

Isn't a cheap program though.

Been a few years since we bought it but expect ~10k for minimum package.