CAD/CAM for 5 axis milling

[eSoles]

eSoles, (www.esoles.com) is upgrading to a 5axis Thermwood CNC. We make custom footbeds using a 3d scanner, edit the data, add some features and generate a NC code. Our current software is ArtCam, which does ok with contour milling. Our plan is to mill a perimeter bevel and add abevel cut beneath the arch.
I'm searching for a 5axis compatible CAD/CAM that will let us import and edit STL files. My choices seem limited (powermill, maybe OnecNC).
If anyone has some suggestions, I would be very grateful.

[turmite]

eSoles I did a quick Google search and found several with one pass.

Delcam, Surfcam, Mastercam and others. What is available to you will depend a great deal on your budget. My only advise would be to go slow and make sure you have a chance to se the software in operation in person. It would be necessary on my part to have full access for at least 10 days to see if the particular software fit my needs and my mental ability!

Mike

[biomed_eng]

eSoles,

I recommend you give www.vx.com a call. I use VX "mold and die" for modeling and NURBS surfacing from stl laser scan data. I have not used their CAM module, but it is fully 5 axis capable.

Best of eLuck!

[PoppaBear10]

I can highly recommend OneCNC XR2 with 4th-5th module. I use it, it is easy to learn and use, and import stl's, and other formats.

Give it a shot, you want be disappointed.

Scott

[eSoles]

Thanks for the input. I contacted One CNC and was told their 5 axis was 3+2 only, we need simultaneous milling. I have been in touch with VX, got the demo software (no CAM). So far so good, but I'm waiting to hear from my sales guy about files I sent him. Powermill looks pretty good.

If you guys have any more ideas, please let me know, I'm kind of under the gun to come up with a solution.

[goatchurch]

I don't know if there's some kind of a wiki around here where people can make a cooperatively maintain a table of information. From my connections with software development I do know that more and more CAM systems are buying in the ModuleWorks library for doing their 5-axis features.

This information often gets lost somewhere among the sales bumf, but it's important for users to know if several products are utilising exactly the same library, since once you know the capabilities of one, you know the capabilities of all.

I don't know what the case is with these companies, but if they're suddenly producing a fully fledged 5-axis system without any teething problems, then it's obvious what has happened.

[biomed_eng]

Here is some info you may already have from VX help file.

http://www.vx.com/help/1240.htm

I am sure the VX guys can supply more detailed 5 axis info.

Originally Posted by eSoles Thanks for the input. I contacted One CNC and was told their 5 axis was 3+2 only, we need simultaneous milling. I have been in touch with VX, got the demo software (no CAM). So far so good, but I'm waiting to hear from my sales guy about files I sent him. Powermill looks pretty good. If you guys have any more ideas, please let me know, I'm kind of under the gun to come up with a solution.

[eSoles]

We had a webex demo of VX late yesterday. I was very impressed with the capabilities of the software. A big plus to me was the chance to get a hold of a demo copy and start getting familiar with the interface; helped me to understand what I was seeing at the demo. Next for us is to have the manufacture of our new CNC machine run us some pieces using toolpaths from VX.