[t305100]

Does anyone have any opinions on what is the best CAD/CAM software for a CNC milling machine? I am building a 3 axis gantry type machine driven by steppers. The motors will be controlled by Pic List "Linistepper" drive boards.

I intend to be milling PCBs as well as nonferrous metals & plastics. Both the metals & plastics I expect to be fairly complex 3 dimensional shapes.

I will be using a pentium based PC running XP. Cost is an issue, but getting a good package is more important than outright cost.

Your advice would be most appreciated.

Tony.

[lakeside]

there are many out there and every one will tell you the one they use is the best. How much do you want to spend.

[t305100]

You are so right every package is brilliant according to someone. However, I am looking for something capable of more than 3 axis (for future projects), has a reasonably intuitive interface, easy to get started with (if not to master), is accurate & not full of bugs!

I would like to spend no more than £250.00, but I could stretch that if it really made a difference.

Thanks for your interest & hopefully help.

Regards,

Tony.

[tobyaxis]

:wave: There are very few in that price range. The only 3Axis software I can suggest is BobCAD-CAM V21. Mike and I are both users of this software. He has been using it since V19 and myself since V17. It is reasonably priced for 3 Axis work but isn't a really good 4 Axis Application. I'm afraid that for what you have to spend on software, BobCAD may be your only choice. There may be something else but I don't know what.

Try a free demo of BobCAD to see if you like it. Here is a Link to the BobCAD-CAM Forum if you have any questions about the software. You can also call Chad Clark. I deal with him when buying software and he knows how to use BCC and will answer your questions. 877-262-2231 Ext. 124

http://216.117.147.20/bobcadsupport/forums/index.php
www.bobcad.com

Good Luck in your search:cheers:

BTW: Welcome to CNC Zone

[dertsap]

easy enough to use a 3 axis software such as bobcad and edit the 4 axis move , unless of coarse you planning on doing some funky 4 axis machining

[t305100]

Thanks for your views, I will look into "Bobcad" (I am, even now looking into Bobcad). Do you know of any other packages to compare it to, the Mach series of CNC software for instance?

Many thanks again,

Tony.

[tobyaxis]

Thanks for your views, I will look into "Bobcad" (I am, even now looking into Bobcad). Do you know of any other packages to compare it to, the Mach series of CNC software for instance?

Many thanks again,

Tony.

BTW: There is no such thing as a "Stupid Question". All questions are valid to the individual.

BCC is a Big Bang for the Buck 3 Axis Software that is why I have been using it since V17, V19, V20, and now V21. Check out the post V22 in the BobCad Forum here in the Zone. It has not been released as of yet, but will Kick Butt when it is. You could most likely get it for $500.00 U.S. Which is a sweeet deal.

[ger21]

Do you know of any other packages to compare it to, the Mach series of CNC software for instance?

Many thanks again,

Tony.

Mach3 does not come with a 3D CAM package. It's basically a machine controller with some 2D CAM capability.

Check out MeshCAM at www.meshcam.com

[lakeside]

one question that you need to answer is are you looking for a cad/cam for 3d drawing as well as cam or are you just looking for cam

[dertsap]

BTW: There is no such thing as a "Stupid Question". All questions are valid to the individual.

.

i agree in this post ,
but dude a couple of the people that i supervise , i find it incredible what they can ask me in a day

[ger21]

i agree in this post ,
but dude a couple of the people that i supervise , i find it incredible what they can ask me in a day

I'll second, third and fourth that.

[t305100]

I find that if you ask a "Stupid question" you invariably start to get some answers. However, now that I have had some questions asked back, I will try to frame my question in a more targeted manor.

I hope that you will bear with me;

I have a computer, Pentium running XP.
I am about to take delivery of a 3 axis gantry type Milling machine.
I intend to use “Linistepper” stepper drive boards as featured on the “PIC List” (open source project).
I do not have a mechanical CAD package, so I’m open to suggestions.
I have an EDA package including pcb CAD outputting Gerber files (it will output in about 20 different formats inc DFX, ORCAD, PCAD)
I require to be able to mill pcbs for prototype work.
I require to be able to create medium complexity components in either plastics or nonferrous metals.

So, what do I need? As I see it;

1) Connection between computer & drive boards, Printer port or USB?
2) Mechanical Cad package (would Bobcad if the bill)?
3) Control software (I am considering Mach 3 from ArtSoft) from PC via 2"whatever" to stepper drive boards?


So I open it up to the experts, what do you suggest?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Tony

[ger21]

Pretty much all hobby level control software uses the parallel port, not USB. So that answers that question.

If you don't need to do complicated assemblies, Alibre Xpress is a great Mechanical CAD package, and free at www.alibre.com/xpress.

You'll also need a CAM package. Although it is possible to export .2D .dxf files from a Mechanical CAD program, and convert those to g-code with Mach3, it's not the easiest route.

BobCAD/CAM would let you both model and do the CAM in a single package.

Most 3D CAM packages start at $1000 and up, which is well above your budget.

There are other options, like MeshCAM at www.meshcam.com But if you need to drill holes in your parts, it won't do it. You can also go with a 2.5D program like SheetCAM, www.sheetcam.com which may do what you need it to do.

Mach3 is the most popular (and by far the most powerful) of the affordable control software out there.

[tobyaxis]

i agree in this post ,
but dude a couple of the people that i supervise , i find it incredible what they can ask me in a day

Sounds like your the Right Man for the job Dertsap:rainfro:

[t305100]

I must be missing it, but where is BobCad offered for $500?

Tony

[ger21]

I must be missing it, but where is BobCad offered for $500?

Tony

You can supposedly get it for $500, after a lot of haggling and several phone calls from their sales staff.