BobCad Vs. Visual Mill. Which one to Buy.

[sharp_custom]

I'm looking to buy CAM software. I have an AXYZ millenium and am looing at BobCAD and VisualMill. I do have MasterCAM 9 but am having trouble learning the toolpaths. I will be doing 2 and 3 axis machining.

Which one should I buy?

Thanks

[DareBee]

I chose VisualMill pro but that was many years ago and I am not you.
Download and try the VM demo, maybe you wont like its toolpaths either.

[Stowe Figler]

I just started using visual mill in late january. I use rhino for CAD work, so it came to me pretty quick and easy. It's a pretty straight forward CAM program, with good 3 axis capablities. There is some stuff I don't like, toolpath animation, can't create unique cutters, poor CAD capabilities. These things can be attributed to me running the basic version, on a old computer. If you have mastercam but don't want to use it, VM might be a refreshingly simple CAM option. When your cnc work gets more demanding, then mastercam is the call.

[Khalid]

VisualMill is the easiest software i ever seen for metal machining with lot of Toolpath..Now they are working on HSM toolpath like Volumill.. great software..

[louieatienza]

I had demoed both, and I thought VisualMill was by far easier and more intuitive. The PRO version has a huge array of toolpath strategies.

I did end up going the OneCNC route, but VisualMill was easily in my short list.

[Khalid]

OneCNC also seems good after watching too many interesting videos on youtube.. Never tried it..

[BanduraMaker]

I ended up getting VM-pro because of its multitude of 3D strategies. Bobcam seems to be one of the best values out there as apparently the longer you wait after contacting them, the more they drop price but, apparently VM is more polished.

[aldepoalo]

"I ended up getting VM-pro because of its multitude of 3D strategies."

CAM Tool Paths IncludedV25 Standard

* 2.5 Axis Drilling
* 2.5 Axis Profiling
* 2.5 Axis Pocketing
* 2.5 Axis Facing
* 2.5 Axis Chamfer
* 2.5 Axis Threading
* 2.5 & 3 Axis Engraving
* 2D & 3 Axis Plunge Roughing
* 3D Slice Planer
* 3D Slice Spiral
* 3D Engraving
* 3D Slice Radial
* 3D Z-Level Roughing
* 3D Z-Level Finishing



BobCAD CAM Prices can be found at CAD/CAM Software Products | BobCAD-CAM

VM prices can be found at : http://www.mecsoft.com/includefile.php


I think the big difference between BobCAD CAM and visual mill is the CAD side. Most VM users are importing files from other CAD programs and do very little design work in VM by itself.

BobCAD Features:

* Mirroring, Translate( move) and Rotating
* Unlimited Undo/Redo, Cut, Copy & Past
* Part Dimensioning
* Multiple part viewing and rotation
* Drawing with Points, Lines, Arc's, Splines, Fillets & More
* Complete Surfacing Tools
* Complete Solid Tools
* Verify Geometry, Trim Geometry, Layers and User coordinate systems


Many users will go the VM and Rhino option which would then give you a high end design package with cam but it's over kill for some.


One of the features VM has that really nice is a setup sheet with the list of the tools used in the job. BobCAD CAM doesn't current offer this option.

Hands down both programs offer great options for machining, they cost about the same and offer similar features.

just my 2 cents

[kayse]

the last cam program I used was Mastercam X2 so its been awhile and I've been do'in things manually for the last 4 yrs or so Anyway most of my X/X2 experience was 2/3D as typical for injection mold work- Did have the chance to play (carefully) around with 4 and 5 axis on a trunnion table HAAS so I might know enough to be dangerous Looking on Mecsoft website and see they have come out with continuos (swarf,etc) 5 axis type toolpaths on top of their indexed 5 axis paths Any body out there using????? Advertized price 10K Wondering how compares to the ~probably about 22K~ softwares in terms of 1)performance 2)post configuration HELP and (most interestingly 3)if mecsoft and now I see bobcad in SEPTEMBER? can produce an efficient multiaxis platform at these prices what will happen to maintainence, post customization fees as well as transfer/ sale of software-- COMPETITION MIGHT BE A GREAT THING

[cnc_toad]

I bought visual mill and love it. Still learning things but it's my first CAM bought with zero background in machining, yet I was cutting metal in days. Very simple yet powerful.
Customer service is great.
And now they seem to be really pushing out good tutorial videos with narration. There previous ones had no sound and really did not help someone like me that pics up clues with side comments about an Op they are covering.

[AiR_GuNNeR]

+1 on VM. Very easy to use. It has a nice user interface and customer support is real good as well.

[osphoto]

VM.

Easy interface, logical flow for how things work. BC's logic was difficult. Way to many clicks of the mouse button to get to the final output.

I didn't purchase VM to do my CAD. I purchased it to do my CAM. It uses a dongle, which allows me to use my CAM on various computers.

Although I have to import my CAD (Alibre) files to VM, I get a pro CAM system.

Not sure if BC has the ability yet, (At the time it didn't) but VM allows for Z containment depths. Meaning you can give it minimum and maximum cut zone within a Z cut.

With VM, you don't have sales folks calling you all the time about upgrading, etc.