CAM software for CNC Lathes – With C axis and constrained live tool

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

Thanks for the link Joe, I will give it a look.

Alan

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

I have posted regarding progress on the CNC lathe and in my recent post mentioned that I have evaluated a handful of CAM packages with a view to finding something useful for this lathe. Well, that was a journey – almost 100 hours of work!

As I mentioned before, the problem is that the CAM software must cater for a C_Axis and for (basic) live tooling on the lathe. This requirement is not something that can be done in a manner that delivers a 'hobby grade' CAM tool for a lower cost, and a industrial grade tool for a higher cost. If the desire is to generate useable toolpaths from a 3D CAD model, the CAM software can only do it completely or not at all! I use RhinoCAD-7 which does nicely in 3D modeling, and has a good CAM package, but is limited to i(n my case- 5axis) mills, and 2 axis lathes. So I attempted to find a pro-CAM package that would do the job. I evaluated 6 Pro CAM packages –

SpruteCam, MasterCAM, GibbsCAM, NxCAM, AplhaCAM and BobCAD_CAM for Rhino.

I also Looked at KIP_Ware – a Conversational CAM package.

And Finally, back to eCAM, discussed earlier in the posts.

I downloaded each of the packages, except KIP_Ware, and installed each with an full function evaluation license.

I also discussed with each vendor what I was trying to do – most would not give pricing until I had spent time on the software and had completed relevant tutorials. All suppliers, except Kip_ware, were very helpful, responded to all queries, and provided trial support as though it were a fully paid license – this even though I informed them up-front that if I was not satisfied, or if the pricing was to high, I would walk away from it.

All of the Pro packages would obviously do the job, but I found that of the lot, the most 'intuitive' were MasterCAM and SpruteCAM. Mastercam is the most popular package in industry, but felt as though it was beginning to suffer from a conflict of having to maintain compatibility with legacy capability, and integrating all the latest updates in machining methods – as a result, the interface was very confusing at time, current operation mode was not always obvious, and it just took a lot of mental effort to make it do what you wanted. MasterCAM price per seat is from $4000.00 (USD) for basic modes and from $6000.00 for Mill_Turn capability – that threw that one out!

SpruteCAM was Excellent! Very intuitive, very good graphic methods for defining and placing tools, stock, and for defining reference points. Very good mechanisms for graphically editing tool paths and approach mechanisms. You can also define your own machine with full dimensions, tool turret, etc and then simulate fully the machining process with a graphic view of the chuck, turret/ATC and tool, and any crash instances.

All tool offsets and dimensions can be changed on the fly to cater for tool types, tip radius, etc. Note that all the other pro-packages could also achieve this in one way or another, but none were as simple and intuitive as in SpruteCAM. The definition and control of live tooling was also very easy – very easy to graphically pick model surfaces to mill, and from which direction ( axially or radially), define a tool and simulate the path.

I really liked SpruteCAM and 'almost' convinced myself to do the deal – they offer a one-time purchase or subscription deal, the latter of no interest to me, and the annual cost makes it worth the full purchase..

BUT the pricing is around £2500.00 per seat…EVen though I tried hard, I could not manage to convince myself…

KIP_Ware 'looks' to be very useful – has very good features and capability, but only in the brochures .. They do not offer a trial version, not even a crippled version. The web site is one of those brash American sites – they really stuff their products down your throat, trying to make you feel stupid for even considering anyone else's product..When I emailed them with a plea for an evaluation license – their response – 'If you can't afford to buy the software, you should'nt be looking at it'…Wow! The software is in modules:

Main Mill_turn is $700.00, 3D model graphic option ( whatever is does..) is $150.00, CNC File edit option is $235.00 and Live Tool option is $150.00..So, $1300.00 or so – no way of trialing it first..

So, in the end I turned to eCam, discussed earlier.

It has no 3D model capability – works only with DXF drawings or similar, but is actually very capable. I managed to create some complex parts which did simulate well. Of course, tool paths, crashes, etc are your responsibility….no automation here!

Also, eCam cannot handle Radial milling on the lathe..Yet – discussions with the creator reveals he is working on that capability. eCam is free and fully functional on weekends, and costs between 200 Euro and 350 Euro.

If my boat arrives, its SpruteCAM, but eCam will keep me happy in the meanwhile!

Joe

 

 

Edited By Joseph Noci 1 on 14/03/2021 15:52:48

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