Any NE Indiana Tormach Users and AutoCAD?

[befunovo]

OK, two part question. Seriously looking to get one of these probally in the spring for the maintenance shop at work. 2 1/2 yrs ago bought a IH mill and tooling for $3k package (lots of tooling) and it has saved me that several times over. Tormach would be perfect for those needed repairs.

Anyways, anyone around me that might have one? Close to Fort Wayne, IN.

Second question. I am getting ready to upgrade my CAD to the new full version of AutoCAD 2008, wondering will this work with any of the software that Tormach offers (like sprutcam or others)?

Right now I only have LT, but will be upgrading. Have worked with 3D AutoCAD in the past, so that is not a problem. Does anyone else work with AutoCAD to design parts?

Also have limited G-Code experience programming Rotary Index machinery from past job, so I have a 1% idea what I am getting into.

Been reading lots of post, seems pretty good to me.

Thanks all,

Brian

[MichaelHenry]

If you feel like a drive to the west Chicago suburbs some time and can get find me home you are welcome to stop by and take a look at mine.

So far as CAD goes I'd suggest looking into Alibre if your budget won't allow for ACad Inventor or one of the of the other $5k+ 3-D CAD products. That assumes you will be doing something more complicated than 2-1/2 D at some point in the future.

SprutCAM can be a little hard to learn for a beginner but seems to have lots of features and works pretty well with Alibre.

The versions of Alibre and SprutCAM that are available from with the purchase of a mill from Tormach are really good deals.

Mike

[philbur]

Hi Brian,

The big decision on CAM is do I need 3D or will 2.5D do it.

Decent 3D is expensive and relatively difficult to learn. 2.5D is cheap and easy to learn. Us newcomers very often think they should go for the full bells and whistles just in case and so they plump for 3D. If you need 3D today then there's no question if you don't need 3D or just may need it in the future then it's a much more difficult choice. A low cost 2.5D can be a smart intermediate learning step.

Regards
Phil

PS: I think Autocad can generate files that most (if not all) CAM programs can handle.

Originally Posted by befunovo OK, two part question. Seriously looking to get one of these probally in the spring for the maintenance shop at work. 2 1/2 yrs ago bought a IH mill and tooling for $3k package (lots of tooling) and it has saved me that several times over. Tormach would be perfect for those needed repairs. Anyways, anyone around me that might have one? Close to Fort Wayne, IN. Second question. I am getting ready to upgrade my CAD to the new full version of AutoCAD 2008, wondering will this work with any of the software that Tormach offers (like sprutcam or others)? Right now I only have LT, but will be upgrading. Have worked with 3D AutoCAD in the past, so that is not a problem. Does anyone else work with AutoCAD to design parts? Also have limited G-Code experience programming Rotary Index machinery from past job, so I have a 1% idea what I am getting into. Been reading lots of post, seems pretty good to me. Thanks all, Brian

[David Bord]

Sheetcam is a 2.5D CAM program and integrates well with Mach3. Cost is only $175 or so. Great product with lots of support and works very well with DXF/DWG files. Start there and go for Sprutcam if you need the 3D stuff later.. or now. I think its great.. been very pleased with it.

David

[befunovo]

OK, looking at options on CAD and CAM.

Specifics. This machine will be used for maintenance at work. Being able to make parts instead of waiting for them to be replaced. That is the primary cost justification. Secondary is all the cool stuff it could also do on the side. The IH mill really has saved us a few times over the last 2.5yrs. Looking at outfitting a work shop in a new maintenance room. Things like a new lathe, the old IH mill, a cnc mill, brake, press shear... stuff like that. Being able to get a factory back up and running in one shift as opposed to waiting 2 or 3 days will pay for the mill package in one or two occurances.

Back to CAD/CAM. The above being said as background information, I am looking to upgrade my AutoCAD seat right now to full AutoCAD 2008 or the Inventor suite (3D solids).

From what I have read, I would probally buy the machine with Sprutcam and a 2.5 CAM. The 2.5CAM seems very reasonable from a price standpoint and I would have the Sprutcam for when/if I needed it. With a machine purchase, that is a hell of a deal for the $1000. Just not sure if I would spend the $570 for the turboCAD/CAM video package when I already have AutoCAD inventor package or go with a seperate 2.5CAM package. That can be decided later.

So, who has experience with AutoCAD 2208 vs. AutoCAD Inventor suite? Which one will do the job considering it will only cost me $2000 right now to upgrade to either one.

Has anybody here used AutoCAD Inventor with sprutcam?

What 2.5CAM works will with AutoCAD Inventor?

Might have to post this over on the software section also. Seems to have gotten away from a Tormach issue, but mainly here because of the software package deal. Do not want to deal with others telling me I need a "real" VMC for $40,000 instead. Odd how others always know what you need.... $40k isn't happening. Heck, $20k wouldn't happen and it is for work, so no chances on used VMC's.

Thanks MichaelHenry for the offer, will keep it in mind.

Thanks

Brian

[philbur]

I think the main thing with CadCam is to try and build on what you already have experience with. Not to save cost on the software but to save on time and effort in re-education, which of course is cost. I use TurboCadCam for the only reason that I already had several years experience with TurboCad.

I think AutoCad will work with most Cam packages, if not all. Don't buy your 3D until you need it, situations change quickly.

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by befunovo OK, looking at options on CAD and CAM. Specifics. This machine will be used for maintenance at work. Being able to make parts instead of waiting for them to be replaced. That is the primary cost justification. Secondary is all the cool stuff it could also do on the side. The IH mill really has saved us a few times over the last 2.5yrs. Looking at outfitting a work shop in a new maintenance room. Things like a new lathe, the old IH mill, a cnc mill, brake, press shear... stuff like that. Being able to get a factory back up and running in one shift as opposed to waiting 2 or 3 days will pay for the mill package in one or two occurances. Back to CAD/CAM. The above being said as background information, I am looking to upgrade my AutoCAD seat right now to full AutoCAD 2008 or the Inventor suite (3D solids). From what I have read, I would probally buy the machine with Sprutcam and a 2.5 CAM. The 2.5CAM seems very reasonable from a price standpoint and I would have the Sprutcam for when/if I needed it. With a machine purchase, that is a hell of a deal for the $1000. Just not sure if I would spend the $570 for the turboCAD/CAM video package when I already have AutoCAD inventor package or go with a seperate 2.5CAM package. That can be decided later. So, who has experience with AutoCAD 2208 vs. AutoCAD Inventor suite? Which one will do the job considering it will only cost me $2000 right now to upgrade to either one. Has anybody here used AutoCAD Inventor with sprutcam? What 2.5CAM works will with AutoCAD Inventor? Might have to post this over on the software section also. Seems to have gotten away from a Tormach issue, but mainly here because of the software package deal. Do not want to deal with others telling me I need a "real" VMC for $40,000 instead. Odd how others always know what you need.... $40k isn't happening. Heck, $20k wouldn't happen and it is for work, so no chances on used VMC's. Thanks MichaelHenry for the offer, will keep it in mind. Thanks Brian

[MichaelHenry]

Has anybody here used AutoCAD Inventor with sprutcam?

I don't have any experience with Inventor and CAM, but SprutCAM does have an add-in for Inventor. That should make it easier to get Inventor models into Sprut but you'd want to verify that before plunking down cash.

Phil Burman has a different slant than I do but that's one of the benefits of an open forum. Lots of viewpoints to serve as fodder for the decision making process. My experience may well be atypical, but getting productive with SprutCAM has taken quite a bit of time so it may not be a good choice if you are frequently under a severe time constraint. Try as many CAM demoes as you can and find one that works well for you.

Mike