ZW3D Should I buy Pro's & Cons.

[lapuser]

I have been corresponding with support in China RE the lathe part of the upcoming 2012 release. This is not looking good. I sent money in to renew as my only chance to do this cheaply would expire at the end of the month. This was based on the promise of lathe in cam and me looking for a cheaper way out than just biting the $$$ bullet and getting another program. At this time it appears that I will still have to get that other program anyway but have thrown $1,600.00 down the rat hole. Not at all happy here.

OUCH!, ZW3d Buyer Beware | solidedging

[lapuser]

Well folks now we have 2012 beta out and there is no post for lathe. Lathe has icons and whatnot in the cam plan but without any posts to communicate with your lathe they are just pretty pictures. What the other poster saw in Europe was a sham and it could not have posted G-code to anything. Tech support in the US is no more and you have to send emails to China for support problems. They do say on the website though that they promise to get back to you within THREE DAYS. So you have that part on the mill and can't go further till you have an answer? My suggestion would be fishing or a short vacation while you wait cause you sure aren't going to be earning money.

Tech support when done in the US would provide answers with a truly qualified support staff. Today you have support staff that is poorly trained in China and instead of providing answers and workarounds to problems they just send you a number and shuffle it over to development where it is buried under an ever growing pile of incident reports and that never used to be the case with the US techs. Yeah don't take my word for it, go to the ZW3D forums and read from happy users. ZW3D has turned into a piece of garbage.

[cncmm]

ZW has a post configuration editor, now I'm not sure how well it works because I don't use it. I would think if you play with it a bit you should be able to configure a Post for a lathe. The file name is vxpostm.exe and it's located in the ZW3D 201X directory. You may also have to create some custom .def files for the control you're trying to post to.
I know you may not think this POST configuration should be the end users responsibility, BUT IT IS. The sooner you learn how to create and manipulate
.def files and POST configuration files the better off you will be!
A little CAM 101. The responsibility of the CAM system is to output accurate CL tool path data. If it does that then the CAM system has done its job. Now you need a postprocessor to read the CL data and change that information to a G code file that is valid for the control on the machine. I use a third party post that cost as much as VX. That being said I've used this same post for 22 years. It will post to, mills 2,3,4,&5 axis, lathes with and without live tooling, sinker EDM's and wire EDM's.
You have to start thinking of the POST as a separate program, after all ZW only passes the CL data to the post when you click on "NC data".

[lapuser]

Sorry for all of you with hopes for the new release. New GUI and that pretty well is it. Still stuck on 32 bit so even if you can use two cores it does not do much as you still have a 2.7g memory cap for use. One of my six cores in taskmanager shows 16 to 17% use and the memory is pegged out. WOW!! Still has the industries worst sheet metal and direct edit but yes at least it is prettier.

No live support no lathe. Buy this if you need a dongle to plug in a port to keep the dust out.




Yes Folks, ZW3D 2012 is HERE | solidedging

[cncmm]

Sorry for all of you with hopes for the new release. New GUI and that pretty well is it. Still stuck on 32 bit so even if you can use two cores it does not do much as you still have a 2.7g memory cap for use. One of my six cores in taskmanager shows 16 to 17% use and the memory is pegged out. WOW!! Still has the industries worst sheet metal and direct edit but yes at least it is prettier.

No live support no lathe. Buy this if you need a dongle to plug in a port to keep the dust out.




Yes Folks, ZW3D 2012 is HERE | solidedging

Well at least you stop complaining about your inability to put a post together

[lapuser]

What have you gotten yourself into? permalink

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To answer your question: IMHO, the most powerful machining software, handsdown no question asked.
Is NCL the fastest software to create a tool path.....NO
Is NCL easy to learn.......HELL HELL HELL NO!!!!!!!
Is it for every shop ..........NO most shops don't have people smart enough to learn it or owners that can see the power that NCL has!
Can you generate 3,4,5 axis tool paths that start were you want, end were you want, do exactly what you want along the way, with no surprises, ABSOLUTLY.

PWORKS ............IMHO, the best post in the world. Our shop has written posts for 3, 4, 5 axis mills CNC sinker EDM's, laths and wire EDM's.

Your only real limitations with these products are your limitations as a programmer.

This is from another post from you. I thought to look and see what all you did and a discussion on posts came up. I presume this Postworks is what you bought to write your posts from. You also say it cost you more than VX did. So I should spend more money on this than ZW and then spend gobs of time to learn it? Really?



I suspect that very few cam users know how to do this or expect to have to do this and I for one will do as the vast majority do and expect it to be provided by the software author. In all honesty I have never run into anyone who does write their posts from scratch although many do tweak a provided post processor.

[manitoba_farmer]

I bought ZW3D 2012. Really like it, very good for the complex surface design and tooling/molds that I do. The toolpath generation for my 3 axis mills has been very good. Took me a while to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, ZW works well. I'm not sure why other folks have had problems with the posts - I have configured two different posts for two different mills and it works perfectly. IMHO the postprocessor is pretty straight forward to tailor to your needs. The toolpath verification tools are good - shows if you've made any serious errors.
The CNC lathe part of the package in my opinion is still beta, even though it is included in the general release. I configured a post for my old CNC lathe and it cut without crashing. However, the lathe part is still pretty basic. It really needs to include some standard tools from Kennametal, etc. I don't like having to recreate tool geometry that is available for download from the tooling manufacturer.
The support has been good, but it will take a day for someone from China to email you back. I would prefer to have someone in North America to talk to.

[lapuser]

Dan Micsa who was the creative genius behind Quickmill in VX/ZW left the company in the early part of April. Practically speaking this means that all development for quickmill has come to an end. Dan was the sole individual capable of working on it in their employ both before VX was bought out and after.

As of 5-17 support is still kicking things over the wall and calling questions they can't answer as product change requests. Mike Lynch and Earl Thornton and Thomas Minten used to be the go to guys for VX and they found solutions or workarounds. Case in point. ZW3d China support said recently that they had no post for a horizontal mill and could not figure one out. So the individual telling me this story was in a state of disbelief. He says that all you have to do is change one line of Gcode to reflect which axis you wish to work on. ZW did not know to do this at the vaunted email only support desk. ZW has however saved a lot of money by getting rid of all those expensive foreigners and great things are just around the corner.

Promotional costs for ZW right now are actually pretty good value for the program as they are getting very desperate for new customers. They have yet to fix the forum for ZW3D and seemingly are incapable of doing so. This does not directly affect the program of course but it is indicative of the struggle ZW China is having in every area to fix things and move the ball forward. All the posts referencing direct editing capabilities from Solid Edge that Bob Fischer asked for some time back have been removed from the forum. I suspect that since ZW claims to have direct editing but really does not they wanted the comparison gone from their site.

At current promotional pricing, if you do not need support or direct editing and can live with a program as it is and that probably will not improve much, I think they could be a good value. If you need more and expect more go somewhere else.

[foxman.lin]

Quick Mill is great in ZW3D CAD/CAM, what I could expect more is the future enhancement after I'm using ZW3D 2012 for a few months, as what they promise, I did get the 2X turning with the Fanuc post processor, it works pretty good, their support guys are nice. I did use VX for a few years, it was not only the tool for me, it means more.

I don't think QM is slow in development, they are promising to have 64bit support, as well as faster, safer and easier machining. I love their new CAM folder in ZW3D 2012, even though it needs a little more improvement. It shows me more confidence that QM is going to be better.

[Paul.F]

Hey guys, I just purchased ZW3D 2012 after testing the beta version. So far I’m pretty happy with my purchase as it can deal with all of my needs. What I really like is the translator which imports my CATIA V5 files nicely and the healing on it is great. I’m not sure if anyone here has used hybrid kernel software before, but i’ve had a great experience so far. I don’t really need to have the perfect solid in order to machine my mold. Regarding Quick Mill, it has been a breeze to use and does all the calculations etc for me. However, I hope that the 5x machining will be enhanced soon so I can see the real life simulation and see the end result of my designs. Does anyone know if this will happen in the near future?

[lapuser]

Yes 2013 Beta is out and it is pretty sad. 64 bit is not there like it was supposed to be and now they say September. I doubt they will make that. Direct editing is still rudimentary at best. Sheet metal see's nothing of significance which caps years of pitiful efforts or no efforts here. Go to the ZW3D forums and see for yourself how these poor guys who are trying to be In the ZW fan club have a lot of negative things to say. No High speed machining AGAIN.

Very few enhancements or product feature additions of worth. Now their big problem is that they are pretty well standing still but others are forging ahead with powerful tools that make you more money year in and year out. ZW I think has forever crossed into the realm of third or fourth rate software in all areas and their customers will soon be those who can't afford better or those who can't afford to leave. The beta stayed on my workstation for about one hour and that was it for me. Here from V9 to 2012 and I have pulled the plug on this junk. Buy this if you can't afford better as you can create parts and machine them but don't expect to set any productivity records and things are broken in some of the tool paths again so cut air the first time around.

[lapuser]

This will be my last update on ZW3D. I have been using Solid Edge for design for four years now whereas I used to use VX. Quit VX because SE was everything a top mid-range MCAD program should be. Real direct editing, don't base your opinion of direct editing on ZW's terrible implementation of it, great sheet metal and tons of other good stuff + 64 bit done years ago. Lots of progress at Solid Edge where ZW has actually gone backwards. ZW3D CAD/CAM CAD software discussion forum Read the latest stuff on the ZW forums and see what these poor customers are having to deal with. Loved a reply from Collin today talking about how Transmagic V9 fails to work on Win 8. His advice was to load Transmagic V8 and it will work. Problem is that Transmagic is now on V10 and to get the best translations you need the latest version of Transmagic which will recognise the latest versions of various geometric kernals. There is nothing working well here as a trip through the forum posts will prove.

Solid Edge will have it's annual convention in Cincinnati the last week of June. At this convention will be the roll-out of the integration of Camworks from Geometric and Solid Edge. I have been one of the beta testers and I have to tell you that reminiscing about all the grief I have had with VX/ZW3D in CAD and CAM makes this new integration between SE and Camworks all the sweeter. I FINALLY get to pull the plug on ZW3D cam and that will be the end of ZW for me forever. I knew this was going to happen a year ago so I just gritted my teeth and dealt with all the ZW crap in the mean time. Last version I updated to was 2012 and it was strictly for CAM as the CAD side is useless in so many ways for MCAD. Downloaded the beta version of ZW2013 and it was so bad I spent one hour with it and took it off. Now remember I was a customer of VX/ZW from V9 until ZW2012. V14.5 was the best most stable trouble free version ever and since the Chinese have bought them out it has been all downhill. I have tons of tech support and local VAR's to support me also with both Solid Edge and Camworks. Numbers here in the USA where I can talk to warm bodies where English is the native language. I remember when VX thought support here in the USA was important to but not the Chinese. YOU are not important enough to them as customers to have good support although they will take your money. These guys in Chine may try hard but they are running in circles and this while the program slowly deteriorates and tech support STILL after a couple of years can't adequately answer most questions sent them.

SO bye bye ZW. You had value over the years to me as a stepping stone to real CAD and CAM programs. I am glad I knew you back in the day where good stuff was happening so I can have some fond memories to offset the bad taste of the last two years of programing failure. You guys bought a 3D modeling Kernal and you don't have the slightest idea of what it takes to develop it or support it. I figure that ZW will be up for sale again soon as it is clear that if it is not sold to someone who does know what to do with it ZW's remaining days will probably be short and most definitely ugly. Everyone has trouble integrating their software for 64 bit. Even the big guys who actually know what they are doing have problems so imagine with me the upcoming travails of the amateurs at ZW. I am going to follow ZW for their release of 64 bit ZW not as a user but rather as someone who is watching a tornado on TV. You don't want to be there in the middle of it but you do want to watch it happen. So buy your popcorn and lean back in your easy chair and enjoy the end time saga of ZW but don't be foolish enough to want to be there.

RIP ZW, you were decent in your day but those days are long gone.