Sprutcam tutorials.

[Gundawg]

I have been watching the Sprutcam tutorial videos and all I can say is I am not impressed after using Vetric software I don't think Sprutcam could have made it any more complicated for simple operations. The part that they show the tutorial on I could draw and toolpath in 2D using cut 2D in much less time and with about 1/10 the moves and clicks through the software. If I end up needing Sprutcam I think I will need to take a class on it from what I have seen in the tutorials. I have Aspire which is Vetric's 3D and has Cut2D in it.

I am not sure if I can figure out a work around for a couple things one will be tapping holes and the other is vertical turning lathe type operations.

The Vetric Aspire does support lathe and indexer work but I am not sure how to make it work using the z axis for turning I will ask about that on their forum.

Mike

[flyinchips]

I think one of the "problems" with Sprut CAM is that it is much more powerful than some of the other CAM tools. Therefore, it has many more controls and buttons. I'm a RhinoCAM user. My version does not have 4th axis for instance. Sprut CAM does, so there are controls an buttons for using that feature. Furthermore, Sprut CAM must have twice as many 2.5D and 3D machining options as my version of Rhino CAM. For instance: I don't have drive machining. What the heck is that?

I will be trading up to Sprut CAM just for this extra complication. I now have a 4th axis and want to use it. The 4th axis upgrade in Rhino CAM costs more than the new Sprut CAM, Plus I'll have the ability to generate G code for my lathe, yet another extra cost in Rhino CAM. Yes, the learning curve just got steep, but in my mind worth the effort.

If you are happy with your CAM, why change? In my case, it is because my other tools will be more useful if I learn Sprut.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Hmmmm.... I was just looking at SprutCAM, and I really LIKE what I see! Lots of flexibility, and the modeling capability looks really nice. I love the idea of being able to model the clamps, fixtures, tool holders, etc., to be able to detect possible collisions BEFORE crashing the machine. And all the different options on each operation looks like exactly what I've been missing.

Any real SprutCAM users here that can comment on the stability, and usability? I'd rather not spend $2K on the software, and then find it's buggy....

Regards,
Ray L.

[bobeson]

Note that toolholder collision detection is not performed by SprutCAM, but clamps and fixtures are avoided during toolpath generation.

I've found SprutCAM to be rather capable once you climb the steep learning curve and figure out how to avoid the many, many bugs that can cause it to crash or go off into the weeds. I can easily imagine much better CAM software, but it would seem that nothing else can currently touch the overall capabilities of SprutCAM for the price. I've sunk enough money into expensive software to last a couple lifetimes, so I'm hoping to avoid purchasing something better for as long as possible. So far, it seems that SprutCAM keeps improving, and I keep learning new ways to get what I want out of it, so I'm reasonably satisfied overall. You just need to be able to stomach all of the issues and inconveniences while you learn to work around the problems and shortcomings. Eventually, you'll learn to program complex parts fairly quickly if you stick with it.

BTW, I have a seat of VisualMill for Solidworks for sale if anybody is interested. PM me.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Note that toolholder collision detection is not performed by SprutCAM, but clamps and fixtures are avoided during toolpath generation.

I've found SprutCAM to be rather capable once you climb the steep learning curve and figure out how to avoid the many, many bugs that can cause it to crash or go off into the weeds. I can easily imagine much better CAM software, but it would seem that nothing else can currently touch the overall capabilities of SprutCAM for the price. I've sunk enough money into expensive software to last a couple lifetimes, so I'm hoping to avoid purchasing something better for as long as possible. So far, it seems that SprutCAM keeps improving, and I keep learning new ways to get what I want out of it, so I'm reasonably satisfied overall. You just need to be able to stomach all of the issues and inconveniences while you learn to work around the problems and shortcomings. Eventually, you'll learn to program complex parts fairly quickly if you stick with it.

BTW, I have a seat of VisualMill for Solidworks for sale if anybody is interested. PM me.

Hmmmmm..... Sounds about par for the course with software these days. I struggle on a daily basis with bugs in Mach3, bugs in SheetCAM, bugs in Alibre, to the point that a significant portion of my time is taken up NOT doing anything productive. But, at least with something like SprutCAM, if it can be beaten into submission, could also save a lot of time by being able to catch most errors in simulation, rather than in ruined metal and broken tools. I did the CutViewer demo, and found even that, limited as it is, extremely helpful. But, it is obviously a dead product (last update was many years ago), so not a good investment. SprutCAM has several orders of magnitude more capability in the simulation alone. Add to that the seemingly pretty good CAM capability, and it's tempting....

Regards,
Ray L.

[Smokey911]

Hmmmmm..... Sounds about par for the course with software these days. I struggle on a daily basis with bugs in Mach3, bugs in SheetCAM, bugs in Alibre, to the point that a significant portion of my time is taken up NOT doing anything productive. But, at least with something like SprutCAM, if it can be beaten into submission, could also save a lot of time by being able to catch most errors in simulation, rather than in ruined metal and broken tools. I did the CutViewer demo, and found even that, limited as it is, extremely helpful. But, it is obviously a dead product (last update was many years ago), so not a good investment. SprutCAM has several orders of magnitude more capability in the simulation alone. Add to that the seemingly pretty good CAM capability, and it's tempting....

Regards,
Ray L.

I have the 770 and am looking for reasonable cam software. I just saw that 30 day trial of sprutcam is now 2 weeks. Is there any other software out there in this price range. I keep reading about the learning curve. I don't mind learning but I don't want to be so bogged down I spend the next 4 weeks just trying to do simple operations...

[mcphill]

I have the 770 and am looking for reasonable cam software. I just saw that 30 day trial of sprutcam is now 2 weeks. Is there any other software out there in this price range. I keep reading about the learning curve. I don't mind learning but I don't want to be so bogged down I spend the next 4 weeks just trying to do simple operations...

BobCAD is in the price range, but it has fewer features. Also, their sales tactics are "aggressive"... You can get the Pro package for under $800, much less the better a negotiator you are. Don't pay any attention to the list price, and by NO means consider it fixed!

[Smokey911]

BobCAD is in the price range, but it has fewer features. Also, their sales tactics are "aggressive"... You can get the Pro package for under $800, much less the better a negotiator you are. Don't pay any attention to the list price, and by NO means consider it fixed!

Do these packages have yearly fees, maintenance contracts that you must have to keep using the product (Sprutcam, Bobcat and so on)?

[mcphill]

Do these packages have yearly fees, maintenance contracts that you must have to keep using the product (Sprutcam, Bobcat and so on)?

I don't know about SprutCAM (I don't believe so). BobCAD does not, but after the first year you can't get assistance without paying. You can pay per incident, though. They do release new versions every year or two, and those are offered at a discount, and are not required to keep using it. There are people still using BobCAD v19 posting on CNCZone (current version is v24).

[MetalShavings]

The fees associated with SprutCAM are sleepless nights, premature hair loss, extreme frustration and -on the monetary side- the cost of paying for classes or subscriptions to support sites with better tutorials.

I've been struggling with this software going on a month now. As I've stated in other posts it only took me a couple of weeks to get familiar with SolidWorks, TurboCAD, PhotoShop and a couple of other more complicated softwares.

Once I get one problem figured out with SprutCAM and start feeling a surge of confidence, another problem presents itself; like software crashes and Access Violations.

If I weren't already bald, I'm sure I would have lost my hair by now.

In shear frustration I only yesterday bought the "NewFangled Wizards" add on just so I could use my new machine to practice with till my tooling package arrives. Now it looks like I'll be forking over a little more money for a subscription to a support site in the UK that offers far better learning support than anything Tormach has to offer.

I can see the potential that SprutCAM has to offer but, even the very best CAM software is absolutely useless if the user can't figure it out.

I only wish it was more intuitive and more like the conversational softwares available.

MetalShavings

[Smokey911]

The fees associated with SprutCAM are sleepless nights, premature hair loss, extreme frustration and -on the monetary side- the cost of paying for classes or subscriptions to support sites with better tutorials.

I've been struggling with this software going on a month now. As I've stated in other posts it only took me a couple of weeks to get familiar with SolidWorks, TurboCAD, PhotoShop and a couple of other more complicated softwares.

Once I get one problem figured out with SprutCAM and start feeling a surge of confidence, another problem presents itself; like software crashes and Access Violations.

If I weren't already bald, I'm sure I would have lost my hair by now.

In shear frustration I only yesterday bought the "NewFangled Wizards" add on just so I could use my new machine to practice with till my tooling package arrives. Now it looks like I'll be forking over a little more money for a subscription to a support site in the UK that offers far better learning support than anything Tormach has to offer.

I can see the potential that SprutCAM has to offer but, even the very best CAM software is absolutely useless if the user can't figure it out.

I only wish it was more intuitive and more like the conversational softwares available.

MetalShavings

I keep hearing that all over and over again. I am trying to decide between sprutcam and BobCam v23... I hear pros and cons with both. I am looking for the least learning curve even if it has a little less functionality... I don't want to stop cutting period for a month while I read day and night. I know it will take time and we all should be ready for that but I am looking for a little intuitiveness... Out of the 2 which would you recommend?

[Don Clement]

Well I haven’t lost any hair over using SprutCAM as shown this picture of me taken this morning: http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ct2011_web.jpg

Admittedly the learning curve for SprutCam 7 is a bit steeper than most software I am using (Solidworks 2010, Adobe PS4, MS office, etc) but SprutCAM 7 does work well for me. I found the SprutCam tutorials from Tormach very good. SprutCAM 7 has worked very well for me in conjunction with Solidworks 2010 64 bit. Also I couldn’t beat the ~$1K price of SprutCAM for the features when I bought my Tormach.

Don