SprutCAM vs VisualMill

[BanduraMaker]

Hello All,

I'm just getting into CNC machining and currently busy drawing my parts in CAD (SolidWorks 99 - old but it's getting the job done so far) and evaluating CAM software.

The most complicated from a machining standpoint I'll be making is a scroll which will probably require either an 8 sided fixture or a 4th axis to do (I've attached a pic). For now I'll probably go with the 8 sided fixture to save money and headaches.

In a cam package, I think I'm looking for the following:

Multi Sided Machining (must have)
Custom Toolpaths - i.e. drawing a toolpath that's not necessarily in the model (nice to have)
Multi Side simulation (very nice to have, possibly must have)
Pencil Line machining or Valley re-machining (very nice, borderline must have)
integrated simple CAD for fixturing and custom toolpaths (not sure? Is this necessary?)

Right now, my top contender is VisualMill but unfortunately, to get all the features I'm looking for I have to go all the way to the Pro version which is around $4k.

DeskProto also looks quite interesting - it's a lot cheaper and gives me just about everything except the pencil line machining.

Finally, I just discovered SprutCAM the other day and it seems to have features that blow VisualMill out of the water at half the price? Has anyone here worked with both? How's the support end of SprutCAM? I hear that mecsoft is great with support hence the high price tag.

Thanks in advance and any input is greatly appreciated. I'll be downloading the eval copy once my machine is up and running (about 3 weeks) but I like to get as much info in advance as possible.

[Magnum164]

All I can say is to evaluate all of the features completely. For me, SC is a little backwards in that you select a tool but the Feeds and Speeds are actually defined in the machining operations, so it changes on every operation. I have been looking again at VisualMill and I can assign default F&S's and then change them at the individual operations if needed. I have broken a lot of endmills because I have forgotten to reset a parameter in SC. Just makes better sense to identify the proper S&F for a particular tool once, not in every application unless the material changes (I think BobCad goes further in allowing S&F per material type for each tool)

Good luck, for me I doubt I would need all the features in the Pro version, but I do want to look at the extended simulator option.

As far as support. Both programs offer great support.

I actually have the VisualMill version that comes with Alibre and so far it seems all of my operations can actually be done with that version. So good to evaluate against SC for now.

[BanduraMaker]

Originally Posted by Magnum164 Good luck, for me I doubt I would need all the features in the Pro version, but I do want to look at the extended simulator option.

Yes, that's a huge mark against VisualMill actually. Really all I need from the Pro version is the ability to rotate the part (machining coordinates) and pencil line machining and I suppose with that, the ability to simulate multi sided machining.

According to mecsoft, the only package that offers rotating the part is the pro version. Basic+4th supports a 4th axis but apparently not multi sided machining (If I understand them correctly).

SprutCAM seems to have all of it out of the box.

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by BanduraMaker According to mecsoft, the only package that offers rotating the part is the pro version. Basic+4th supports a 4th axis but apparently not multi sided machining (If I understand them correctly). SprutCAM seems to have all of it out of the box.

Not sure what you are referring to there. The STD plus 4th axis gives you indexed and continuous 4th axis machining according to the specs.

[BanduraMaker]

Originally Posted by Magnum164 Not sure what you are referring to there. The STD plus 4th axis gives you indexed and continuous 4th axis machining according to the specs.

That's what it seemed like to me to but, that's not the answer that I got during a live demo (they demo the system on a livemeeting type of thing). There is of course a possibility of miscommunication though.

If that were the case, It would be much more attractive, especially if they could al a carte the pencil line machining.

[mecheng10]

I did in depth evaluations of both and decided to purchase Sprutcam. For me, the main deciding factor was the value that Sprutcam delivered in terms of features vs. cost. For the features I needed which included the ability to do turned parts, I was able to get Sprutcam for a fraction of the cost of Visual Mill. If you are considering purchasing Sprutcam, I highly recommend talking to Eric at Tormach.com. They offer a fully loaded version of Sprutcam at a excellent price, provide great technical support, and have direct conenctions to Sprutcam's programmers for feature requests and those tough technical issues.

-Brian

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by BanduraMaker That's what it seemed like to me to but, that's not the answer that I got during a live demo (they demo the system on a livemeeting type of thing). There is of course a possibility of miscommunication though. If that were the case, It would be much more attractive, especially if they could al a carte the pencil line machining.

I'll check next week, as their website feature comparison chart says otherwise.

VisualMill CAM software package - Computer Aided Manufacturing CAM software for mold, die and tooling, wood working, rapid-prototyping, general machining.

I don't know what pencil line machining is in either package

Anyway.. Good luck... Just wish they had a full featured demo that allowed saving as well as posting.

[dbrija]

Originally Posted by BanduraMaker That's what it seemed like to me to but, that's not the answer that I got during a live demo (they demo the system on a livemeeting type of thing). There is of course a possibility of miscommunication though. If that were the case, It would be much more attractive, especially if they could al a carte the pencil line machining.

I too recall an issue with how 4th axis/multi sided was handled by Visualmill. Seems like it had to do with an inability to assign local coordinate systems. You'd have to actually move the model and generate a path, and repeat for each side. Don't recall the specifics as its been a while. It was a large part of what led to my decision to buy Sprutcam.

[BanduraMaker]

Originally Posted by dbrija I too recall an issue with how 4th axis/multi sided was handled by Visualmill. Seems like it had to do with an inability to assign local coordinate systems. You'd have to actually move the model and generate a path, and repeat for each side. Don't recall the specifics as its been a while. It was a large part of what led to my decision to buy Sprutcam.

Yes and that's the rub - you can assign local coordinates but not until you jump to the pro level product for $4k.