[jonbanquer]

I have a file I would like an experienced V20 BOBCAD-CAM user to look at.

For some reason my lead on / lead off (circular approach) when using Machine / Profile gets put in very weird places if I move the UCS. I would be happy to e-mail the file to anyone who wishes to take a closer look at it. My e-mail is [email protected].

I prefer to have a blue background. BOBCAD-CAM on it's own frequently decides to automatically change the background to white. Happens at least 2X a day.... very annoying.

Is there some reason BOBCAD-CAM can't be just one Window with the CNC part built into a panel ? Managing two Windows is a real PITA !

Why does BOBCAD-CAM frequently generate moves that I don't want ?

I just don't feel I have a total understanding of how BOBCAD-CAM makes it's decisions and I don't see any BOBCAD-CAM documentation explaining how BOBCAD-CAM makes it's decisions to produce G code.

Frequently I end up with lines of code I don't want... like start points I don't want, etc.

Is anyone able to produce exactly the G-code they want in BOBCAD-CAM without editing ?


jon

[clarry]

Save your frustrations and change to something decent now. We waited too long also and its just not worth it. It is basically a hobby software and if you need to get a job done lets face it it just wont do it. This is not flaming it for the price I guess its ok for a hobby and that is your budget. I see on another forum you can buy it for $150 and they say thats even too much.

Clarry

[jonbanquer]

Save your frustrations and change to something decent now. We waited too long also and its just not worth it. It is basically a hobby software and if you need to get a job done lets face it it just wont do it. This is not flaming it for the price I guess its ok for a hobby and that is your budget. I see on another forum you can buy it for $150 and they say thats even too much.

Clarry

I understand what your saying but the FACT is that the small job shop I work for is NOT going to change. We just upgraded to V20. I need to find a way to get the best understanding that I can and make the most of BobCAD-CAM.

I wish to know if there is a way to not have to constantly edit the G code that BobCAD-CAM produces. If this means workarounds, etc. so be it. The basic functions in BobCADCAM and how it chooses to produce code are often bizarre. For instance, BOBCAD-CAM always puts in start G code moves that I don't want... this despite using Move To Point as a first step. I believe that there must be some workaround besides deleting moves I don't want ! If not I want this acknowledged and I will deal with it. It seems like if I knew what BOBCAM-CAM was basing it's decisions on I would be better able to handle how BOBCAD-CAM produces moves that I don't want and perhaps I could pervent them.

jon

[HuFlungDung]

Jon,
One thing to watch, when editing in the nc editor, do not backspace to do deletions of code. Highlight and use the delete function. This, I believe, is the only way to change the "history" which Bobcad stores to create the correlation between the g-code, and the little arrow thing in the main window. That is what the "cnc" file type (if that is still how they do it) does: it creates an association between the gcode and the toolpath. Backspacing to delete code does not accomplish the correction in the "history".

Also, the way it used to work, the tool is always left at the end of the toolpath after generating code in auto mode. The "move to clearance" is simply a dumb insert into your code, and does not represent a movement that creates a "history" in the main window on the toolpath. For this reason, you should always plot a point to start from (at a real clearance height) and another point to rise to clearance at the end of the cut. You should use "cut single" to make the moves to those points, or else, you may connect them to your actual toolpath with solid line (for feed move as in plunging) or dashed line (for rapid move retraction).

If you fail to plan for the start and end points within your drawing, this could explain why you sometimes see "extra movements" inserted into your code, because Bobcad adds in an extra move to clearance as a safety. So you get redundant code when it adds this to your "move to point" or "move to rapid height".

This was the way it used to work, and I don't know if this is of any help. But, if you become cognizant of how finicky the editor is, then you learn to live with it in reasonable harmony. Construct complete toolpaths with vertical entry and exit lines to completely capture every tool motion.

[clarry]

Jon

I understand that you say your shop is not going to change but that really is false economy. I estimate that we got the cost of change back in 2 weeks and that is not even allowing for the possibility of scrap from wasted incorrectly made parts. The time we put up with it looking back cost us an absolute fortune that is why I said dont even waste your time. Being a small job shop is all the more reason to change. One decent stuff up could be real bad for you. The irony of it will be like us you will have to change anyway for longer term survival and in the between time you are putting up with all the frustration.

Clarry

[ginamc]

I was using bobcad v19, and had no problems. Then when I upgraded to v20 I had nothing but problems.

I could not understand it. Then I realized I needed to download the v20 postprocessor for my machine from their site. Since you said you just upgraded, you might want to check to see if they have a new v20 postprocessor for your CNC.

Hope that helps.

Gina

[Kookaburra]

Jon,

Work with BobCAD (Florida office) on this, they should be able to help you through the change over issue as well as the issues you are having elsewhere. If you have no luck, PM me and I will see what I can do for you.

[jonbanquer]

Hu,

I really appreciate the effort. These are the kind of blood, sweat and tears tips I'm looking for and are not documented in any BobCAD-CAM manual / video that I have seen. I will try your tips as soon as I get a chance and comment.

jon

[jonbanquer]

Dave,

I did contact the BobCAD-CAM Florida office and spoke with someone who I have known on the internet and by e-mail for years who works there. It's my opinion that Hu knows more about working with BobCAD-CAM even if he hasn't used it in some time. :>)

At one point in time my boss took a BobCAD-CAM seminar and was told by the person who leads the BobCAD-CAM seminars to let the CNC machine handle the cutter comp. (Enter the full tool size in the CNC machine.) Neither my boss or I do it this way. I don't do it because I have read that a CAD/CAM program is capable of more accurate cutter comp calculations than a CNC machine is and I believe this. My boss doesn't do it because he's the boss, knows what he's doing, and does things his way cause he 's the boss. :>) From what I've seen my boss's real world experience of why he does things his way makes sense and I adopt many of his strategies because they work !

If you have any BobCAD-CAM tips (survival strategies :>) ) that you think might be of help please feel free to pass them along no matter how trivial you think they might be.

Thanks for your continued interest and support.

jon

[jonbanquer]

Gina,

I modified an existing one to work with our Yasnac i80M controls but I will check to see if they have an exact one. I don't think that this is the issue but I'll check.

Are you able to produce the NC code you want with no editing ?

jon

[jonbanquer]

Jon

I understand that you say your shop is not going to change but that really is false economy. I estimate that we got the cost of change back in 2 weeks and that is not even allowing for the possibility of scrap from wasted incorrectly made parts. The time we put up with it looking back cost us an absolute fortune that is why I said dont even waste your time. Being a small job shop is all the more reason to change. One decent stuff up could be real bad for you. The irony of it will be like us you will have to change anyway for longer term survival and in the between time you are putting up with all the frustration.

Clarry

"I understand that you say your shop is not going to change but that really is false economy."

I agree it is false economy. Hu also made this point and I agreed.... completely. However, it's still not my decision.

"I estimate that we got the cost of change back in 2 weeks and that is not even allowing for the possibility of scrap from wasted incorrectly made parts."

Having used other CAD/CAM systems I can certainly see how this is possible. I can also see where less time than 2 weeks is possible. :>)

"The time we put up with it looking back cost us an absolute fortune that is why I said dont even waste your time."

I understood when you said it why you said it. :>)

"The irony of it will be like us you will have to change anyway for longer term survival and in the between time you are putting up with all the frustration."

Here's what makes it easier for me to put up with the frustration you allude to :

The owner of the company is an awesome person and I will do what he wishes because he's has been totally supportive of me.

My boss is the same way.

I understand your points. There darn good ones. There meant to spare me from what you have been through.

Do you understand mine ? :>)

jon

[CNCdude]

I get a real kick out of this guy Clarry. Reminds me of someone we know all about here at BobCAD. Jon, I have talked with you on the phone before and I thought we were on the right track. The UCS issue you are experiencing is real and is something we are aware of and are fixing. I have never experienced screen colors changing at will. I will look into this. In terms of tool moves that you don't want, email me some specifics that I can look at. You have control over your depth settings, rapid moves etc. I am sure that we can get down to the bottom of things and help you accomplish what you need to do.
CNC Dude

[jonbanquer]

I get a real kick out of this guy Clarry. Reminds me of someone we know all about here at BobCAD. Jon, I have talked with you on the phone before and I thought we were on the right track. The UCS issue you are experiencing is real and is something we are aware of and are fixing. I have never experienced screen colors changing at will. I will look into this. In terms of tool moves that you don't want, email me some specifics that I can look at. You have control over your depth settings, rapid moves etc. I am sure that we can get down to the bottom of things and help you accomplish what you need to do.
CNC Dude

"Jon, I have talked with you on the phone before and I thought we were on the right track."

I took your advise and advised my boss that it would be a good idea to upgrade to V20... which he did.

I fail to see how a decent beta test program for BOBCAD-CAM V20 did not catch the UCS problem with Profile that I *immediately* discovered.

Perhaps it's time to talk on the phone again. I have an e-mail you sent me years ago that I would like to read to you as I feel it's very pertinent to this problem and to other problems I'm experiencing with BOBCAM-CAM V20. I also have not heard boo on my request to get an upgrade price for our V18 videos.

Hopefully you still have my cell phone number. If not, please e-mail me at [email protected] so that we can start resolving these issues.

Thanks,

jon

[bobcor]

currently I have 2 version 20 seats one has never been activated and I use
the other one for the text editor only. Now I need a good text editor. My computer locks when I try to Transfer files. When it renumbers lines it numbers the file header so when the file gets to the mill it won't read it.I can't
customize my post and it goes down hill from there. I bought ver 19 and upgraded to ver 20 2 seats. I thought about getting a ver 20 book and trying one more time, stupid me cut your losses and find some software with some value, time and money is a wastin.

[jonbanquer]

"Jon, I have talked with you on the phone before and I thought we were on the right track."

I took your advise and advised my boss that it would be a good idea to upgrade to V20... which he did.

I fail to see how a decent beta test program for BOBCAD-CAM V20 did not catch the UCS problem with Profile that I *immediately* discovered.

Perhaps it's time to talk on the phone again. I have an e-mail you sent me years ago that I would like to read to you as I feel it's very pertinent to this problem and to other problems I'm experiencing with BOBCAM-CAM V20. I also have not heard boo on my request to get an upgrade price for our V18 videos.

Hopefully you still have my cell phone number. If not, please e-mail me at [email protected] so that we can start resolving these issues.

Thanks,

jon

Still waiting.

In any case, I hope you have a good holiday Chris.

jon

[jonbanquer]

Still waiting. :frown:

jon

[ger21]

Why don't you try emailing him?

[jonbanquer]

Why don't you try emailing him?

What would I say in e-mail that I have not said here ?

jon

[Kookaburra]

Chris,

Could you please sort this out, as usual, you need to go to the customer and sort the problem out.

Jon,

There is a good possibility that CNCdude has not been online to see your posts. CNCDude is the Vice President of BobCAD "WORLD WIDE". He is an extremely busy man and CNC Zone is something that he checks from time to time. If I were you I would be happy that he even replied to your posts and I would be taking his offer of support as a fast tracked foot in the door to BobCAD. Those who wait "loose out". As GER said, "email him". Incase you lost his e-mail it is >>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] . I would expect that next time you post here you would have contacted Chris, or, Chris would have contacted you.

[jonbanquer]

"Chris,

Could you please sort this out, as usual, you need to go to the customer and sort the problem out."

Wrong, Dave.

I contacted Chris first by calling him on the phone. I was assured by Chris that V20 was the way to go and that V20 Profiling would be a big help and worth the upgrade so I told my boss to upgrade. He did as I asked and upgraded to V20.

V20 Profiling lead in and lead out breaks when you move the UCS.

After weeks of using V20 I'm not very impressed and fail to see how proper beta testing was done on V20 of BobCADCAM. Most of the problems from earlier releases of BobCADCAM still remain while new features have been added that neither myself or the company I work for need.

What both myself and the company I work for need are tools to quickly produce code that does not need to be massively edited.... see posts from HuFlungDung and others that correctly state and document the many, many problems with BobCADCAM.

I want BobCADCAM to finally address these problems rather than run from them. This means a proper beta testing program which I know doesn't exist. How could it exist when something as simple as moving the UCS causes Profiling lead in and lead out to break ?

"If I were you I would be happy that he even replied to your posts and I would be taking his offer of support as a fast tracked foot in the door to BobCAD."

When Chris moved to OneCNC years ago ( I belive Chris was only there for a brief time), Chris e-mailed me and asked for my support. I gave Chris the support he asked for. The problems that existed years ago that forced Chris to make the move to OneCNC still exist today *at* BobCADCAM and *in* BobCADCAM.

Are we now clear on this or do you want more specifics on what I know and how I know how long this nonsense has been going on ?

One way or another the massive problems that BobCADCAM has are going to get fixed and not continuously swept under the rug.

jon