OPINIONS - Im shopping for CAM Software

[ninewgt]

I am looking hard at Visual Mill.... I need 3d capable CAM software with importing of IGES, and or DXF (3d) for maching on a 3 axis router. GOOD documentation, good machine path generation....

ANY opinions on VM ?

Whats comparible to it ?

I bought Bobcad..... now looking for something better....

[hardmill]

Whats your range?
There's lots out there

[ninewgt]

My range is about 1500-2000

[Rekd]

That's not a bad budget. Mastercam has a really nice package. Great posting abilities with fully modifiable posts, and excellent support via resellers and the forums.

'Rekd teh Computers follow your orders, not your intentions.

[Bill]

We just got VM4 and no problems. Already done a couple of 3D parts. The only thing is I have to wait for changes because you can not modify the part in VM4.

[castguy2003]

Let me know where to pick up Mastercam 3D for 1500-2000.

[cadcam]

CASTGUY don't hold your breath for MC in the under 2000 range..
Sorry. maybe he thought looking real fast he wrote 15000 to 20000.

[HuFlungDung]

Originally posted by castguy2003 Let me know where to pick up Mastercam 3D for 1500-2000.

Ya, me too!

[SRT]

Cadcam,
Is it possible to add the solids on to Mill level one? I heard it could be done for a $1500 (add on for the solids portion).

[Carver]

I have been running VM for 2 years. I can highly recommend VM4.
Documentation is not strong, but there isn'y anything out there to compare with it for the price.

Take a look at my website to see what I cut with it on a 3 axis router.
www.masterwerkes.com

Good luck, Phill Pittman
phill@digicarve.com

reverse engineering
Product development and production

[duluthboat]

Bump! Just saw that V5 is out. LOL!! The advertisement at the top caught my eye, as I’m sure it was designed to do.( The Masters in Cam. ) Anyway I keep looking at it and was wondering about opinions from those that are using it.


Gary

[Carver]

I have been using Visual Mill for a couple of years with great success and am a real fan. But...No matter how much you like something there are always a few things that you wish were different. I downloaded VM5 and most of my wishlist is here and functioning.

You can now create and edit pretty complex geometry within Visual Mill. If you are a Rhino Cad user things will seem incredibly familiar to you. I am just guessing, but it looks as though VM licensed some of the Rhino kernal from McNeel and Associates to put in VM. Even the icons are the same ones. This is a VERY good thing.

You can introduce true type text directly in VM and create toolpaths for engraving with no plug in or third party program.

You can do "v-bit engraving" tool paths. Automatically. If you are not familiar with engraving, this path will bring your bits up and out at the square corners to allow accurate font shape without rounding due to the spinning of the bit. This is also the only function that apparently has a bug. It did 90% of my serif type fonts and left the odd corner uncut.

Four axis cutting has enabled some new features.

A fifth axis has also been added but it appears to be more of an axis for positioning of the fifth axis while keeping four in simultaneous motion. Still this aint half bad for the price. Do a google search for 5 axis cnc software and see what you find.

Overall the program is 300% more robust than it was.

Tech support is initiatlly very attentive, but must be very busy, because they have had my last problem file for over a week and my only communications from them has been sales emails. I don't mean to sound sarcastic, this is a problem I saw after the last realease. I am sure that it is like a circus in a software company after a new release.

If you are a current user, dont load the demo in the same directory as the older version. ( it will try to default to this) IT WILL OVERWRITE ALL YOUR CUSTOM POST AND TOOL LIBRARIES. The old version 4 installation will then die,,,,slowly...and not graciously.

I seem to remember someone telling me to save all this in another directory, so I guess it's My Bad.

Right now I would have to give VM5 4.5 stars on functionality and 5 on value.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong..

Phill Pittman
digicarve@verizon.net
www.masterwerkes.com