Good cam software question

[AssassinXCV]

Hi,

I have the free version of Vectric Cut3D, and it is soooo easy to generate the gcode (well, go through the process).

the only problem i have is that it only does 3 axis. Does anyone know of another program that you can just import the .stl , and then the program does it all? (with 5 axis)

Surfcam can do 5 axis, but the program takes a lot of learning to be able to use it. it's not simple: import, click settings, generate. It actually requires you to draw out the paths yourself!

thanks..

Summary: Need program like cut3d (ie simple) but can go up to 5axis.

i dont want to have to do anything, i just want to be able to import my file, and have the program do all the work.

Thank you.

[Maglin]

Good luck with that. Their are so many factors involved with 4 & 5 axis mills. I don't think their is any software that is purely a click to generate a 5 axis code. Surfcam is also very very expensive but I hear it is very good. I've also seen good stuff with mastercam, but read that Surfcam generates better constant 4+ axis code.

Sent from my Droid

[AssassinXCV]

what about another software that can do 4 axis? but is just as simple as Vectric's ?

are there other softwares out there that can do 3 axis just a simply as vectrics? because i cannot get the full version of vectric at this time

[rowbare]

what about another software that can do 4 axis? but is just as simple as Vectric's ?

are there other softwares out there that can do 3 axis just a simply as vectrics? because i cannot get the full version of vectric at this time

You are going to be hard pressed to find anything as simple to use as Cut3D. You might want to look at MeshCam though. I downloaded a trial of it a couple of years ago and seem to remember that it was pretty straight forward to use. However I only used it a few times before the trial ran out. You can get a 30 day trial version of it. MeshCam will do double sided machining.

CamBam isn't too bad either but again not as simple as Cut3D. CamBam allows you 40 sessions to evaluate it without a time limit. This is plenty of time to learn the software well. They also have a free version.

As for 4&5 axis, the cheapest you are likely to find is SprutCam and it runs around 2K for the Master version.

good luck!
bob

[ger21]

MeshCAM can do indexed 4 axis too. Doesn't load as many file formats as Cut3D, but can do a bit more.

[AssassinXCV]

Thanks! i'll go check those out.

cheers

EDIT: holy bajeebers, meshcam is awesome!!! checked out some vids on youtube, looks very user friendly

[Maglin]

SprutCAM looks very nice. I was checking it out a few weeks ago. It's Russian which kind of bothers me. I'd rather support a US company (call it cold war syndrome). But it looks very capable. I actually forgot about MeshCAM. I need to give it a try. I still haven't figured out which CAM software I want to run. I didn't like Cut3D personally. I really need to be about to do 4 sided machining on 3 axis.

[AssassinXCV]

well, meshcam is awesome

since it works in linux, i can always reinstall that partition on desktop i have dedicated for cnc machine.

i can keep all my emc2 configs and settings backed up on a usb thumb drive and i can beat the 30-day trial that meshcam has.

[Maglin]

Please delete your last post. When you said SurfCAM is to hard to use I already knew how you obtained it. IP theft isn't tolerated around most places. MeshCAM is cheap. $175 on sale currently for a full license. And their isn't a std, pro, expert heiarchy where 2 new features costs you $2K, or you start to pay $1.5K/axis above 3. When you pay the money for software like SurfCAM you already know how to use it, or at least what it entails.

I really hope you don't use pirated software to make anything for profit. You could be into some serious lawsuits if you get caught. Not worth it IMO. I'm sure flames are coming after this.

[AssassinXCV]

ya, i noticed that meshcam is really cheap compared to vectric cut3D, also, meshcam supports 4th axis machines!!! vectric can't do that!, after i test out mesh cam on my hobby machine, if everything goes good, i will buy it.

i just dont really like buying stuff that i cannot hold onto, do they ship a cd for it and a cd key? or do you have to use those registration codes?

seems kind of sketchy that your paying for the just the number code, and dont get any real hardware.

just sayin'

edit: when you said you know how i got the program, and that i pirated it, i dont know what you're talking about..... student demo version more people like me (a student only 17 years old) http://www.surfware.com/register_for...o_version.aspx

so a lesson for you: do some research to see if a program has a trial/demo version before you accuse people of commiting crimes. i dont see you ranting about the post how Meshcam is a really good program, so what gives?

[ger21]

i just dont really like buying stuff that i cannot hold onto, do they ship a cd for it and a cd key? or do you have to use those registration codes

They send you a registration code. If you want to hold it in your hand, burn it to a CD.

[Maglin]

Since you indeed fixed your last post all is good in internet land. I don't see how taking my advise and changing your post then attacking me is all that helpful, but I digress.

Anyways I'm checking MeshCAM out later today or tomorrow when I get some free time to experiment. Looks like a Good cheap CAM software. At least until I can afford something like MasterCAM or maybe if I don't care about lathe AlibreCAM.