State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
Hi everyone,
We are evaluating new CAM systems and Mastercam is on the list. I've had our local reseller demo the software a few times and answer some of my more technical concerns. I would really like to hear from the community now(you) on how mastercam works for you and what you use it for. If you're up to it, I would like to hear everything you have to say. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. Also, if you have experience with other CAM systems, how would you compare them?
I'm just looking to see how others think about it.
As for us, we do all sorts of work with all the machines. From 2 axis trak mills/lathes to 5 axis trunions and head/head machines, mill/turn(Haas ST30Y), and Wire EDM.
What kind of machines do you use and have you had better luck with some more than others when using mastercam? How about mirror finishes at micron levels?
Feel free to rant. I want to know what I'm getting into that sales people will never expose me to because why would they?
Anyways, thanks in advance!
-G
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
I loved using mastercam and though the company would get the upgrades I always stuck with x3 . The more recent versions are a massive cluster F#$% in my opinion . I think they are trying make it "easier" to cater to engineers who don't have dirt under their nails , rather than machinists who know what they want , and need to move through the motions fast without a bunch of pretty pictures and wizardry to guide them
Aside from the clutter it's pretty solid software
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
I would be interested in what type of work you do. the improvements that been added sense X3 have really made my work and ease of use better every time a new version comes out.But I program all kinds of machine and different kinds of part from all over the US. So I really get into the nuts and bolts of the software.
Have you tried working with any of the new toolpaths and updates?
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BluishInventor
Hi everyone,
We are evaluating new CAM systems and Mastercam is on the list. I've had our local reseller demo the software a few times and answer some of my more technical concerns. I would really like to hear from the community now(you) on how mastercam works for you and what you use it for. If you're up to it, I would like to hear everything you have to say. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. Also, if you have experience with other CAM systems, how would you compare them?
I'm just looking to see how others think about it.
As for us, we do all sorts of work with all the machines. From 2 axis trak mills/lathes to 5 axis trunions and head/head machines, mill/turn(Haas ST30Y), and Wire EDM.
What kind of machines do you use and have you had better luck with some more than others when using mastercam? How about mirror finishes at micron levels?
Feel free to rant. I want to know what I'm getting into that sales people will never expose me to because why would they?
Anyways, thanks in advance!
-G
The interface is as horrible as ever. It is terrible working in 4k screens with a lot of problems with fonts and icons. Licensing is still a pain. And COME ON Mastercam!!! After all this time after moving to the new interface in 'X' the tool path operation tabs / managers aren't standardized. But it's mastercam. They dominate the market so there's that going for them.
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cadcam
I would be interested in what type of work you do. the improvements that been added sense X3 have really made my work and ease of use better every time a new version comes out.But I program all kinds of machine and different kinds of part from all over the US. So I really get into the nuts and bolts of the software.
Have you tried working with any of the new toolpaths and updates?
not sure how i missed your question but I found x3 to be a solid version , better than the 2 before and after . It wasn't so much tool paths or anything in the further versions but i despised the " improvements " to the cam interface . Then I sat down in front of 2020 and I wasn't long before shutting it down and firing up x3 . I'm no longer with that company so it is no longer a concern to me
I am sure there are many improvements to the tool paths and all , but they should have kept well enough alone . I understand people in a modern world want so called modern interfaces , but, I look at it as a tool , not a pretty picture in front of my face .
If my gripe sounded like a bash of any kind then it's not , I just don't like the direction they took it for the user . If I had the extra money to spare then I'd be running mastercam for my products , even if it had to be a cluster f new version .
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
Sometimes developers just try to be too clever.
Highly likely they don't actually 'use' the software themselves so screw it up a bit for the actual users for the sake of minor efficiency gains.
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
I don't know so much about that . I think the developers are trying to make it easier but for those who don't know how to machine but need to put out code , engineers etc . In doing so they are adding extra steps for those who know precisely how they want to tackle the job
I think the problem these days is "user friendly " , and that goes for everything . People want everything to walk them through the steps rather than learning and remembering the steps .
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
metalmayhem
I don't know so much about that . I think the developers are trying to make it easier but for those who don't know how to machine but need to put out code , engineers etc . In doing so they are adding extra steps for those who know precisely how they want to tackle the job
I think the problem these days is "user friendly " , and that goes for everything . People want everything to walk them through the steps rather than learning and remembering the steps .
MasterCAM developers don't even pick a standard of how to pick geometry in their toolpaths dialogues. They sure aren't working on making it "user friendly" for anyone.
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
warrenb
MasterCAM developers don't even pick a standard of how to pick geometry in their toolpaths dialogues. They sure aren't working on making it "user friendly" for anyone.
but it's much prettier than it used to be:D
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
I've been using Mastercam since 1989. I liked it then and like it now. When they have instituted major interface changes, it has taken a little while to find all the commands, and to customize things to my liking, but I have never had any major gripes. I do tend to wait a bit before using the latest and greatest release so I won't wind up being a beta tester. I'm just moving over to 2022 and liking it a lot. I use it for 5 axis, 3 axis, lathe and wire.
My $0.02
Re: State of Mastercam in 2021. Toughts? Annoyances? Praises?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ampguy
I not like that feature recognition is not as good as others like featurecam.
Any MC after 2019 is garbage. Too many bugs, bad tech support.