[FandZ]

I'm trying to decide between powermill and Mastercam X3. I seem to be able to navigate powermill better than Mastercam. For my needs though, Mastercam looks like a better choice but Powermill just feels more user friendly to me. Bottom line, I like it better. The only problem is the support community for powermill is nearly nonexistent. Is there anyone here that is experienced with powermill that I can bounce some noob questions off of?

MY primary goal with powermill is to import my dxf models and generate my tool paths and get my gcode for mach3 to mill.


It was a long road learning solidworks (even though I mostly use sketchup now) that now it's a little disheartening that I"m close to machining some parts and I have to learn cam too...lol A big part of me wants to say screw it and just buy cut3d but I know I'll just end up buying something else down the line since it is so limited. I do need to commit to something soon. I have a paying project to work on over the summer.

[Superman]

1st you have to identify your machining capabilities ?
eg 3-axis machine, with/without positioning or full 4th axis
or upto full 5-axis machine, lathe-work is / is not included.

what sort of jobs you want to do ?
vice work, holes, single surface, or complex aerospace parts

Software Background
Mastercam
versatile, copes with 2D and 3D wireframe, surfaces and solids
creates programs for mill , lathe and wire when combined with a fully configured post processor for each machine

Powermill
versatile, powerful surface based toolpath stategies, quick calculations on surface toolpaths, very awkward on 2D geometry, very very long programs, drill cycles a bit involved, model has to exist before toolpaths applied, can be created by additional software from Delcam or another 3rd party,
( I will be corrected, but no-go for lathe or wire ) , as for mastercam-requires a fully operational post for each machine

Summary
--simple shop work- also look at other CAD systems
--simple & advanced shop work- mastercam and powermill would suffice but a simple CAD system for "run of the mill" jobs, but mastercam would/can cover all senarios in a pinch.
--aerospace & highly specialised jobs only- powermill before mastercam
for a 5-axis machine, mastercam is capable as well

We do all types of machining, and have experience with both CAD systems, but have found powermill useless on anything less than a 5-axis part on a 5-axis machine. We had endless problems getting a post to work properly, certain parts worked great, but programs were monstrous

Also note!!!
posts configuring and testing is involved, cost is dependant on complexity
mastercam post ,3-axis is cheap $300-500, where a 5-axis post is $3-4-5K ( each ) ( prices are guestimates, exact prices from the resellers )

I assume you have investigated $$$ ( don't be too shocked at the quote )


PS Powermill cannot do much with a DXF file, mill/turns or lathes
PPS I prefer mastercam for a 2D/3D, multi-axis, all machine type all-rounder, powermill just for the complicated shapes on a mill. We now are a mastercam shop

[FandZ]

Howdy Superman. For the next year I'll only be milling on a 3 axis desktop router. My demands are not very complicated and the parts I want to make are simple enough. A lot of wood and plastic work. A lot of 2.5d parts. There will be a lot of hole drilling though. I've successfully gotten tool paths from Powermill a few times but havn't gotten one of my models to even load properly in mastercam. It's like I'm stuck with wireframes. I havn't gotten gcvode from either of them yet. I'm completely ignorant when it comes to cam software.

I have tried just about every demo I could get my hands on and these two seem to be my top choices. I'm looking for the quickest/simplest route from design to gcode to start. But I don't want to go with something too simple like CUT3d where later as my skill grows, and my machine grows to a 4 or 5 axis setup, I'll be limited with what I can do.

[Superman]

I'm looking for the quickest/simplest route from design to gcode to start. But I don't want to go with something too simple like CUT3d where later as my skill grows, and my machine grows to a 4 or 5 axis setup, I'll be limited with what I can do.

This is my opinion -OK
You are starting out on a small 3-axis router,
Powermill would be overkill, Mastercam may also be too much for the plain simple parts to start off.
We, being an Okuma shop, use the high end software but find it doesn't pay to use these to program a simple rectangular part, drill and tap 4 holes and machine a bore. The cut3D or similar is the one that would be used 75% of the time, programming time would be short, software knowledge and learning is simple, you can concentrate on the machine as that is what makes $$$, not sitting down programming while the machine is stopped

Even when moving up to bigger and better machines and job complexity, this basic 2.5D software would still play a role in part making. So choose wisely, find a shop that uses the software and ask questions, see it in action.

another one to look at is OneCNC

PS Maybe I can give a couple of pointers to get you going in mastercam
or any other problems, post in the mastercam section for better responses ( there is many willing to help )