Esprit--Anyone used it or using it???

[drewg350]

I noticed that there's alot of software forum's here under the CAD/CAM topic's but that Esprit doesn't have a page. Is anyone else using this software, and if so, how do you like it, and what type of machines are you programming with it? Thanks in advance!!

[tex]

Originally Posted by drewg350 I noticed that there's alot of software forum's here under the CAD/CAM topic's but that Esprit doesn't have a page. Is anyone else using this software, and if so, how do you like it, and what type of machines are you programming with it? Thanks in advance!!

Esprit2003 was the software that came with HAS SL-30 lathe I used to work on. Did not check it out thoroughly (I work in CATIA), but it seems pretty good. Used to like it's backplotting abilities, though.

[krismiller2]

I have been using Esprit for 7 years now. It has to be one of the best cam software's I have used. I would recommend it to anyone.

[DKeach]

You probably won't see a lot of Esprit related forums out there because Esprit (DP Technology) has a pretty good internal support system. If you aren't already hooked up with their web service you may want to check it out.

[firedog]

I am using it as well. Their internal support is very good, and their A&E techs are checking the forum pages within the DP website constantly. I am programming Okuma lathes and mills, Haas lathes and mills, Tree m-centers, as well as Mori Seiki and Hitachi Seiki lathes. Some of the lathes are 4 axis and some have live tooling.
Post development takes time, but the Esprit techs seem to be good at working thru whatever issues you may have.

[ghyman]

Not to sound like a broken record, but I have used Esprit since back when it was called Vantage.
It matured into a freaking awesome package about 10 years ago, but it needed a Unix platform to run.
They took the look-n-feel and made it work on WinNT; still awesome.
Then they tried to make a Windows look-and-feel interface, and it was like they started from scratch, and were typing all of the code left-handed. It was very pretty, but it was a step WAYYYY back from where they had been. The functionality was only 50% of where it had been, and the stability was horrible.
They've gotten marginally better in the past 3 years, but I still think they've given up a lot of the 'stuff' that made them great.

And true, they do have a good support staff, but it is my opinion that since the jump to the native windows interface, their support staff (and R&D staff as well) have been mostly doing reactive service, bug fixes, and workarounds.

I hope that they can someday make it back to where they were in days gone by!

[the thrill]

I use esprit because Mori Seiki has a very close relationship with DP Technology so that is the product of choice for my tech center (Mori Seiki, NJ). I have created programs with that software that will blow your mind if I showed you pictures of the parts and after 2 months of using it (ive been using it now for over a year), I was able to create my own post processors for our SuperMILLER (5 axis VMC with turning) series machine and write my own gundrilling cycles that post out perfectly every time. I recommend Esprit to anybody looking for tons of power out of a CAM system. I've been using it almost daily to program parts for aerospace and tooling companies without any problems. Any questions just ask... nuthinbuttrubl89@aol.com

[Exodus8931]

we just got the esprit software .... looks good ... there are a few thing that I would like to see changed ... cause it's messing me up ...

like the depth value .... is positive .... ( I always put in a negative value)

and the other thing is that once ure in the oporation setup stage ... in the input fields .... u can't do right click and select what every geometry that u are looking for ...

but overall it look preaty good

thanks

[the thrill]

The reason they chose the positive Z for "depth" is the same reason why you would say "the well is 8 feet deep". You wouldnt say "the well is negative 8 feet deep" because that would mean that it is reaching 8 feet into the sky. If you have ever used any conversational programs you'll see the same thing. Once you define the top of stock where you are referencing from (how do you like the ease of work plane creation by the way?) you tell it to go XX deep from that point. It takes some getting used to if you do a lot of G code programming on the floor because everything is -Z from the top of the work face. Same goes for lathes unless 1) you set your datum at the back of the part or 2) you are working on a subspindle. I have always programmed with conversational controls so the positive depth is easy to understand for me. If you write to esprit support maybe you can suggest there be a switch in the default settings that allow you to swap the positive values for negative...

[noise]

How about Esprit for 4 axis wire EDM Getting an online Demo with sales rep next week. Any comments or suggestions of things to make sure to ask?

Mike

[Mike Mattera]

Exodus: ".... u can't do right click and select what every geometry that u are looking for "

Sounds like a former Mastercam user.

Depth: I've always thought that you should specify depth in the direction you want to drill. You mentioned Conversational programming. I programmed Heidenhain for years. They always put in the direction. Because, theoretically you cpould drill Up if you wanthed to. What is you have a right angle head pointing to the right, you'd be drilling X+. If it was pointing to the left you'd be drilling X-.

Mike Mattera

[sodickappsguy]

Esprit 4axis EDM is good and there solid modeling for edm is killer but my gripe about esprit is that when you upgrade to the next version (IE 2005 to 2006) they change the way a function works and then you cant simply open and older esprit file with the newer version and then every time you open an older file you have to redo the cut paths and operations.