Edgecam wishlist

[inflateable]

bit of a fun thread - and someone from pathtrace might be reading.

What features or improvements would you like to see in Edgecam?

Here's mine:

Automatic layers. If I call a new tool it should be put on a new layer automatically based on tool number.
Proper control of start/end positions. Be able to specify with coordinates exactly where the star and arrow go.
Higher level pci creation. Creating and debugging a PCI takes more time than it saves most of the time - and after all I'm using CAM so I don't have to go into line by line coding. I'd like to see something like Photoshops 'actions'. High level, no code, quick and powerful.
Ditch features. Creating a feature should be part of the machining procedure - pick a tool and then create a feature on the fly. Automatic feature finder is too unpreditable.
Associate features - if I load a solid and toolpath, and then replace the solid with a similar-but-different part, I'd like the similar features to be recognised and the associated tool path update accurately, including manual moves. (a lot to ask, that one)
Better on screen feedback - Where is that tool actually going in X,Y and Z? I have to post process it to be sure. Maybe real-time post processing?
When I hover over a toolpath I want the instruction to be hightlighted.
Regenerate in the background - when I use insert I don't want to be scrolled down to the end of the program and have to scroll back up and try and find where I was.
Copy and Paste toolpaths. I want to right click on a tool path and paste it into another job.
Better help. Tooltips in dialogue boxes so i can see what thing do without having to open help. A complete re-write of the help files. They are rubbish.
A support forum on pathtraces website with staff input.
Tidy up hole drilling. Clearance, associative, feature, model, retract, level, depth...what? Way over complex.
Simplify CPL creation and editing. Not intuitive.

...and that's just off the top of my head - more when I think of them!

[pit202]

pathtrace can learn a lot from russian - sprutcam 2007 , not everything , but it looks like somebody thought by writing the software as a user and not a code programmer. Sprutcam is not perfect too , if they fix some things i`ll be switching to sprutcam and if edgecam learn a little i`ll stay :-)

some thinks I like in sprutcam that I don`t like in edgecam ( in milling ) :
- creating, defining and redefining, changing a stock
- don`t pointing everytime what is a stock and what is a part
- better simulation with a every line/step pointing
- displaying toolpaths for only one cycle
- better displaying layers for stock/part/machining
- "maybe" better hole recognision ( in EC12.5 is a lot better than 11 )
- spindle rpm`s can be changed in m/min and rpm`s !
- better part diagnostics ( messuring )

thats all I can remember for now , but I don`t think it is over.

and some things that I better like in edgecam as in sprutcam :
- profiling , profiling with a correction , 3D profiling , helical profiling, helical profiling with a correction.
- pointing levels with a mouse ( digitizing part )
- support for 3d spacemouse

Not much , but profiling is a second most used cycle after roughing.

I will not urge anyone , but there is a downloadable version of SC, you can see , you can "touch" and take you own conclusions.

[inflateable]

It's true, the more I use edgecam, the more I realise it was written by coders, not by machinists.

[helix77]

edgecam needs a ton of "machinist" inspired changes...
i would like to see truemill added. maybe edgecam can collaborate with surfware for just this reason.... i know its a lot to ask!.... but truemill is awesome.

[Mike Mattera]

I think this thread is a good idea.

"Automatic layers. If I call a new tool it should be put on a new layer automatically based on tool number." If I understand your suggestion, It does this now?
"Regenerate in the background" You can turn off automatic regeneration.
Simplify CPL creation and editing. Not intuitive.
I suggested that put anything to do with CPL's in one place. They said then it wouldn't conform to the Windows menu standard (Change CPL under Edit, Create CPL under Create, Solid CPL under Solid menu, etc...)

But you do have some good suggestions in there.

No offense, but aren't you the one who said you'd "rather read a book than watch my training videos" (and I know you didn't mean it in a bad way either. Just your opinion), but some of this stuff is covered in my CD's. Since there aren't any books available, they offer a viable solution to learning ECam.

Anyway: You could sit down face to face with an EC programmer to explain why/how "this one thing" (what ever it might be) would make the software better, and all you'll get is a glassy eyed look as they wait for you to stop talking. At least that's been my experience, the few times I was able to speak to someone who could do something to improve the software.

They write code based on a time line given to them by the sales department. Interface Usability isn't a high priority. But who knows. Maybe someone who cares, and can do something, might read this.

Mike Mattera

[WayneHill]

I would rather have a book in front of me. This allows me to see the monitor and see the book at the same time. If I had two monitors on the same PC, I could watch the instruction video, pause, then try it out on the other monitor. But I do not have two monitors. Rats...

My wish list would be getting Pathtrace to fix their video drivers to work with low end PC systems. Example : Terminal Service systems.

[Mike Mattera]

"I would rather have a book in front of me."
Sometimes when I use Edgecam, I would rather have a bottle in from of me. Other times I would rather have a frontal lobotomy.

While you're wishing, You should also wish for EdgeCam to write a decent book. Since no one else has.

Mike Mattera

[Baron357]

Man you guys complain a lot....

[HemiCuda]

We looked at EdgeCAM and felt it was a bit outdated, slow, overly complicated and expensive. That is to say, too many menu options cluttering up the menus.
We also have heard that their US support is lacking. Just my opinion, but at the next trade show take a look.

In regards to complaining, when CAM companies ignore the requests of their customers, than what else can we do? I can't speak for EdgeCAM as we wouldn't own this for CNC programming.

[HemiCuda]

Hey Mike, your training CDs look great!

[HemiCuda]

I prefer well done training videos to a book any day. I hate having to move my eyes back and forth from a book to a monitor. I keep loosing my place in the book! This is just me, but books make me go to sleep, especially training or tech books. At least videos hold my interest and I seem to learn more from videos. Some people will say that they can take a book anywhere. This is true but more times than not "anywhere" is not usually where you want to learn CAD/CAM. For example, at a BAR-B-QUE. You know what I mean here.

No, I do not work for Mike Mattera but his videos are great! Keep up the good work bud!

[WayneHill]

Wish list for EdgeCAM. Stop releasing a freaking new version every few months and start trouble shooting the current version to get it right.

Next wish is to have Pathtrace actually test their software before sending it out to their customers.