i spend my days "working-around"

[Lval]

With Edgecam i spend my days "working-around" and not realy making NC i feel so frustrated.

[inflateable]

cam software is the poor relation compared to all the slick modelling apps like Inventor.

Edgecam can usually do what you want, but it's a pain to get there. It should be so much slicker.

[shape]

the same here,

I'm so frustrated, I'm still learning this thing, lots of work lots of small adjustments/experiences but I think I'm start to understand the system, me and other guy are suppose to have plantif's training very soon.

I look forward

[vortex]

Hello

About bit basics.
First load geometry you want to mill.
Then go to manufacture side and choose machine.
Then go back to design state
move / rotate part in right position.
Go back to manufacture state

choose tool.
then operation you want to do.

then there is one line bottom of screen that tells you what to do in every selection you make.
first pick starting point then geometry and last stock boundaries.

Im not sure about order of those selections.

That should get you started.

[Baron357]

I have been using EdgeCam for about 10 years now, it can be tough for people to use right off the bat but it will come to you. At this point there is not much I can't do in it fairly easily. Just takes time to learn.

[inflateable]

Originally Posted by Baron357 I have been using EdgeCam for about 10 years now, it can be tough for people to use right off the bat but it will come to you. At this point there is not much I can't do in it fairly easily. Just takes time to learn.

That's just the point. This is a modern CAM program, it shouldn't take 10 years to get competent. It should be fluid, intuitive and above all, easy to learn.

Mastercam took me a week to get up and running, and Autodesk's Inventor had me producing drawings from my 3D models in less than a day. Why can't Edgecam be that simple?

[Baron357]

Originally Posted by inflateable That's just the point. This is a modern CAM program, it shouldn't take 10 years to get competent. It should be fluid, intuitive and above all, easy to learn. Mastercam took me a week to get up and running, and Autodesk's Inventor had me producing drawings from my 3D models in less than a day. Why can't Edgecam be that simple?

Saying it took me 10 years to get competent is a vast exaggeration and personally I don't see what is so hard to do with EC. I think a lot of it has to do with personal preference.

For example I hate Inventor.

[Mike Mattera]

I agree with Inflatable. I think the simplest things seem hard to do in Edgecam. I found it to be anything but intuitive. Even if your comment about taking 10 years is an exaggeration. Lets say 1 year instead. That's way too long.

But the worse part is they have no interest when you talk to them about improving the interface. They'll tell you they conform to "Windows Standards". And of course Windows is perfect so what's the problem. It's the main reason I produced Video Training CD's. It was to keep track of the processes. Plus I figured, If I wanted this type of information, others would want this type of training too.

Mastercam has some rules for doing things. Edgecam's rules vary depending on whether it's Mill or Lathe, Solid or Wireframe, Cycle or Operation. The worse part is these are rarely documented. Sometimes to get things to work the way you want, you have to know the secret handshake.

Mike Mattera

[Baron357]

I don't know guys maybe you need a good instructor or something but if you think EdgeCam is hard I would not suggest making any foray into NX.

Although I think you are missing a lot.

[helix77]

WOW... I HAVE NEVER HEARD THAT IT WAS HARD (FROM A BASICS STAND POINT).. USING SOLID MACHINIST CAN BE A BIT CONFUSING...
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SPECIFICLY YOU MEAN BY WORK AROUNDS... LVAL

WHAT COULD BE CHANGED WITH THE INTERFACE MIKE... I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH FINDING WHAT I NEED (COMMANDS)..HELL CREATING YOUR OWN TOOLBARS OR CUSTOM COMMANDS IS FAIRLY EASY.

AND...IF IT TOOK YOU 10 YEARS TO LEARN THE SOFTWARE..YOU MAY THINK OF ALTERNATE CAREER PATHS...LOL

[helix77]

AND BY THE WAY... I WAS MAKING PARTS WITH EDGECAM (VERY BASIC 2D) ON DAY ONE... AND IF I CAN DO IT...THEN YOU ALL CAN DO IT TWICE.

[Grantie]

I was on planit's training coarse 2 weeks ago, I have NO previous experience of CAD or CAM software, the coarse left me bewildered, thinking how the Hell will I be able to do that but went home had a good sleep n can't believe how much of it sunk in.

Yes it will take years to totally master but so does anythink worth learning but the basics are easy, Part Modeler & EdgeCam R1 2009 together with its powerfull code wizard (for creating post processors) should handle most jobs.

I do agree however that Planit could be doing with listening to engineers when designing there product as I found rule's regarding where your zero is when doing holes were all over the place, one minute you were absolute next incremental then back again all within the one job, Set a rule n stay with it!!