What CAM?

[mech5107]

Hi to everybody...

I'm into CNC for less than a year and i keep on learning new things.

I'm using a 3-axis mill and Catia V5 as cad and Cam software.
Although the cad is very good, the cam part has some issues that take a lot of time to solve and sometimes i need to design extra geometries to the part.
So i decided to look for some new cam software. I like to keep the catia as cad and import the parts in the cam.

The problem is that, except catia, i don't have any other cam experience.
I need something powerful and easy to learn and practical to use.

I work mainly on free-form parts and sometimes 3d rectangular parts.

I'm currently testing a demo version of solidcam, i have asked for a demo NX and also looking for a mastercam demo.

Is any other software you will suggest? What is used by professional???

[GCMAN]

I would giving GibbsCam a look. Easy to learn and user friendly. Can import your Catia files directly. We've been Gibbs users for about 10 years and love it.
GC

[harley4ever]

Pro E maybe. UG also.

[mech5107]

We are thinking about buying the NX6 cam, but i need to find out if it's best suited to our projects.

[HuFlungDung]

Couldn't hurt to look at OneCNC XR3 Professional or Expert as well. Its got solid modelling capabilities built in, along with 2d geometry functions that make it easy to patch bad models, or to extract surface edges and add on new features. Its a hybrid modeller, so you can do surfaces only, or work with solids. And its CAM is easy to get onto. You'd have to contact one of the OneCNC offices to arrange for a demo, there is no freely available online download without some security involved, but AFAIK, you can tinker with it.

[turmite]

Originally Posted by mech5107 Hi to everybody... I work mainly on free-form parts and sometimes 3d rectangular parts.

I cut all your quote except this line! If you are mostly doing free form parts in your design, you really need to look at Rhino, and I would suggest you take a look at Madcam as your cam for Rhino. Rhino has a save limited free download, and Madcam has a time limited free download.

I use them both and love them.

Mike