nice to hear from you greg. I am beginning to wonder if solids/associativity is even worth it. I created an insert for a G-force fuel cell in solidworks, left off the chamfers and fillets, pulled it into smartcam and programed it very quickly. I pulled the same model into mastercam 9 with the fillets, etc, included. good gravy, what a pain in the keister. since the holes have fillets, mastercam didn't like it, it didn't like the pocket because the ends were shaped for hex nuts and left small isolated areas near the points, etc. i just picked the top pocket profile and roughed it out, drilled the holes and made some money on it. I'm beginning to think solids are no good for 2d stuff.
bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pelly, Greg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Nigel Webb'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Al Jones" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 8:48 AM Subject: RE: [mfg-smartcam] RE: MasterCAM or Esprit? > EdgeCAM from Pathtrace in the UK works pretty well on "associativity" with > sending 3D solids to Inventor /Solidworks. Feature recognition works very > well, if you update your 3d design, in your design system, EdgeCAM will > recognize and understand these changes. It will also automatically update > the CAM paths, and Code with very little human interaction. It's not > perfect yet, but who is? However, one drawback for some is that it's still > not bi-directional "associativity". EdgeCAM does not send "associativity" > back to an Engineering Design system, it's a one way trip, but in most > companies or cases this is best. Most others are in a two year lag or > catch-up mode in comparison. MasterCAM and Gibbs have just started to > really pull in solids to CAM with any associative nature. > > Best of luck and I hope this helps. I've included some optional URL's for > your reading pleasure. > > www.edgecam.com > http://www.edgecam.com/default.asp?goUrl=/uk/product/Solidmachinist.shtml > > Greg Pelly > An Old SmartCAM - Point Control Int'l AE. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Nigel Webb > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 1:39 AM > To: Al Jones; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [mfg-smartcam] RE: > > > Try Edgecam from Pathtrace especially if you're looking at 3D work. It > seemlessly link to Solidworks, SolidEdge & Autodesk (I can only vouch > for Solidworks as this is how we use it). > > Edgecam with was our choice after we looked at, > > Delcam Power Shape/Mill, > Mastercam, > Teksoft Camworks, > Feature Mill, > Ideas Artizan/Manufacturing, > NC Graphics Toolmaker/Machining Strategist, > Gibbs, > And a few more that I can not remember > > > The main reason for choosing Edgecam was the link between Solidworks and > Edgecam. It means the ability to work with customer models without > having to redraw them. And because it is associative, if the customer > alters his/her model Edgecam will update the machining! > > Other notes. > > Delcam - Fantastic product in 3D, not very good in 2D with tool comp, > not associative when linking to Solidworks > > Mastercam - Very expensive > > Camworks - Excellent ease of use but always had issues on difficult > machining > > Ideas - Just appeared very old > > NC Graphics - Just as good as Delcam in 3D, not very good at 2D > > Gibbs - Poor 3D machining cycles > > > Nigel Webb > Industrial Plastic Fabrications Ltd > www.ipfl.co.uk > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Al Jones [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: 25 November 2002 21:59 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: > > We are about 1 week away from choosing between Mastercam & Esprit. > Smartcam was my first and only cam system but we need to move into > Solids. Any biased or unbiased comments about either system would be > appreciated. > > Thanks in advance > > Al Jones > > ====================================================================== > To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, > send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ====================================================================== > > > ====================================================================== > To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, > send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ====================================================================== > ====================================================================== > To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, > send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ====================================================================== > ====================================================================== To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================================================
