Cad to Cam issues

[spinellid82]

Boy oh boy Mike, that's a tough one! I'd say you have me by the short hairs but due to the chemo I don't have any.

[strevo]

Mike,
I'm a CAD guy myself, but haven't ever converted for a CNC. From what I hear it can be pretty finnicky, and depends a lot on what software you're using. A guy at my work used to use MasterCAM software to program the CNC, but I'm not sure if it can output g-code or not. Wish I could be more help. Good luck.

[chassisdude]

Mike,
I'm a CAD guy myself, but haven't ever converted for a CNC. From what I hear it can be pretty finnicky, and depends a lot on what software you're using. A guy at my work used to use MasterCAM software to program the CNC, but I'm not sure if it can output g-code or not. Wish I could be more help. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply ...Im sure he will get if figured out eventually ..Probably just a minor software issue or something simple...We will keep plugging at it

[BrassBuilder]

Try www.cnczone.com instead. Everything you ever wanted to know about cnc can be found there.

[chassisdude]

Thanks..ill pass that imformation on..He fessed up today by telling me he didnt "really" read "all" the instructions....and when he re read... he thinks he knows what he was doing wrong ..soooo...he says he going try to do a small run this weekend..fingers crossed

[dpride]

Mike, sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. This is a big part of what I do for a living.
If you tell me what equipment you have and what software, I might be able to help.
(I still do some medical prototypes)

[chassisdude]

Mike, sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. This is a big part of what I do for a living.
If you tell me what equipment you have and what software, I might be able to help.
(I still do some medical prototypes)

Thats great....Ill get the info..Thanks

[Bugatti Fan]

For those who are not familiar with CAD/CAM here is a bit of explanation. All CAD (Computer Aided Design) programs when producing CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) programs to run CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machines have to produce NC (Numerical Control) code (or G code as it often referred). Back in the old days of NC, machine programmers had write the code and had to do all the Trigonometry for the tool paths as well, then type in the code on a machine that produced punched tape for the machine to read by either optical or mechanical means. CAM programs alleviate the programmer of a lot of tedious repetitive error prone work as the program generates the machine code required after working out the tool path, and the programs are downloaded directly to the CNC machine, stored and used.
However, CAD CAM still needs an experienced designer/machinist who fully understands machining limitations such as where it would be impossible for a machine to do an undercut and be aware of this during the actual designing process.
This is not the case though with the new 3D printers that are now available that build up a model in layers, so undercuts and complex reliefs are not a consideration on this type of machine.