SprutCAM

[Don Clement]

Originally Posted by MichaelHenry My guess is that SprutCAM with quasi 4/5 axis and lathe support is at least the equal of the $9k version of MasterCam so far as feature sets go. Mike

Mike,

I agree. If SprutCAM had adequate training and support it would be equal to MasterCAM for about 1/10 the cost of MC.
Solidworks help, support, and training are excellent and with the addition of SolidProfessor is outstanding. I usually get good results just using the pull down help menu in Solidworks. If I need more help then open SolidProfessor. For example I needed to use in-context (Top-down) design in order to place the right hole locations of a part in an assembly. I opened SolidProfessor and ran the Advanced Assembly lessons that are in the form of a video right on my computer. Better than any book. Here is a link to SolidProfessor free downloads: http://www.solidprofessor.com/downloadlms.asp Also one can download a 90 day version of SW from http://www.solidworks.com/sw/esp/eng...s_package.html If any of you are students (e.g. taking a course at a community college ) then you may qualify for a student version of SW, SW simulation and Solidprofessor for about $300. The student version has a 2-year license. For hobby use the student version of SW may just be one affordable solution.

Don

[David Bord]

Dell precision series of PC workstations with 64 bit OS are looking like just the ticket.

Id highly recommend buying a Intel 5500 series processor based system!! I work for Intel and this new processor is extremely fast when used with engineering apps. The 5400 series is good as well... the 5500 is 20-300%faster on certain apps.

David

[Don Clement]

Originally Posted by David Bord Id highly recommend buying a Intel 5500 series processor based system!! I work for Intel and this new processor is extremely fast when used with engineering apps. The 5400 series is good as well... the 5500 is 20-300%faster on certain apps. David

Thanks for the info David. I believe that a fast processor is going to be necessary. I found that Solidworks FEA simulation and especially non-linear FEA runs quite slow on my Dell Vostro with Pentium Duo processor on very simple parts. I believe a fast processor is going to be needed along with more than the 3.25 Gigbytes of memory that a 32 bit OS gives for Simulating and optimizing my full assembly with several hundred parts.

Don

[Eric_Tormach]

!!HEY DID I HERE SOMEBODY SAY SPRUTCAM HAS NO SUPPORT!!

Hello everyone in the CNC-ZONE SprutCAM forum. My name is Eric and I am the official TORMACH L.L.C. in house SprutCAM support technician. For the past few months I have been working hard to learn all there is to know about SprutCAM. I don't know everything yet but if I can't give you the answers you need immediately, I am sure I can get them for you. I am available to take phone and or E-mail questions Mon-Fri 8-5 Central time. I look forward to being able to help SprutCAM users with any issues they may be having, so please spread the word.

Eric Andersen
Technical Support
www.Tormach.com
Tormach LLC.
204 Moravian Valley Rd. Suite N
Waunakee, WI 53597
608-849-8381 x18
Eric@Tormach.com

[kevperro]

Originally Posted by Eric_Tormach !!HEY DID I HERE SOMEBODY SAY SPRUTCAM HAS NO SUPPORT!! Hello everyone in the CNC-ZONE SprutCAM forum. My name is Eric and I am the official TORMACH L.L.C. in house SprutCAM support technician. For the past few months I have been working hard to learn all there is to know about SprutCAM. I don't know everything yet but if I can't give you the answers you need immediately, I am sure I can get them for you. I am available to take phone and or E-mail questions Mon-Fri 8-5 Central time. I look forward to being able to help SprutCAM users with any issues they may be having, so please spread the word. Eric Andersen Technical Support www.Tormach.com Tormach LLC. 204 Moravian Valley Rd. Suite N Waunakee, WI 53597 608-849-8381 x18 Eric@Tormach.com

Your going to be a busy man Eric. I've been playing with SprutCAM for the last few weeks and lets just say..... it needs some help.

I have a computer science degree and they would definitely be money ahead to polish up their user interface and document everything before adding more features. The extra features are useless unless people can figure out how to use them.

It seems like a capable package but there is no reason for some of the issues. Some of them are simple interface design issues that should never make it to a production copy of the software.

As I said, they would be money ahead to fix the easy user interface problems and document the product. They will spend more money to do it later and spend all the money on user support/lost sales now. Do it right out of the gate and they save themselves a lot of money and headache.

They could also charge a lot more for the product. Obviously the reason that the package sells at a discount relative to other software packages is due in large part to the fact that people will pay the extra money for something that is easy to use and understand. Fix those issues and you can clearly charge more for the product.

Just my $0.02

[justgary]

Wow! What an offer! Please also subscribe to the SprutCAM forum here on CNCzone.

I'll start with this question:

How do I get SprutCAM to properly machine a tapered polygon in 4th axis mode? I have successfully machined a part like the attached image, but I had to play some games and trick the program to keep it from cutting too deep. The problem is that SprutCAM only uses the center tip of the tool to create the path, but a flat end mill will overcut on a taper with that method.

SprutCAM knows the tool geometry; can I make it use it properly in tool-end machining mode?

Regards,

- Just Gary

[Don Clement]

Originally Posted by David Bord Id highly recommend buying a Intel 5500 series processor based system!! I work for Intel and this new processor is extremely fast when used with engineering apps. The 5400 series is good as well... the 5500 is 20-300%faster on certain apps. David

David,

I just ordered a Dell T3500 workstation with an Intel X5550 Xeon processor ,12GB of Ram, a Nvidia Quadro FX 3800 graphics card and XP64 OS. I choose the Xeon X5550 over the (faster?) W3570 Xeon processor based on your info. Hope that was right. The only thing is if SprutCam will work on XP 64. If not then it might become a dedicated SW Simulation workstation.

Don

[Don Clement]

Thanks David for the info about the Xeon W3570 processor. The W3570 is the same processor as the X5550 only for a single socket workstation like the Dell T3500 whereas the X5550 is for multiple socket PCs. The cost difference between the 2.66Ghz X5550 and the 3.2Ghz W3570 was only ~$100. I changed my order and now am going to use the faster 3.2Ghz W3570 Xeon processor. This workstation should be pretty fast and is certified to run Solidworks 2009 64 bit but I still don't know if SprutCAM will run on XP 64 bit OS. Also there will be a free upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit when it comes out in October.Will SprutCAM run on Windows 7 64 bit? If it doesn't then I can still run SprutCAM on the old Dell Vostro running XP home edition.

Don

[David Bord]

Originally Posted by Don Clement Thanks David for the info about the Xeon W3570 processor. The W3570 is the same processor as the X5550 only for a single socket workstation like the Dell T3500. I changed my order and now am going to use the faster 3.2Ghz W3570 Xeon processor. This PC should be pretty fast but I still don't know if SprutCAM will run on XP 64 bit OS. Also there will be a free upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit when it comes out in October.Will SprutCAM run on Windows 7 64 bit? Don

Don,

Windows 7 has a built in XP compatibility mode that uses virtualization technology for current PC's. So, in theory, anything that runs on XP should run well on Windows 7 in this mode. (knock on wood)

David