Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Fred_evans on June 22, 2012, 04:06:50 PM
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Hi everyone,
"Model engineering workshop" magazine is running a very interesting and easy to follow
tutorial entitled "bridging the cad cam divide.
the programs they are using are Viacad and Cambam.
I would appreciate input as to the suitability of these two for use with mach3
-primarilly for lathe and later for milling?
I have used autocad 2d extensively so am moderately cad profiecient
any comments,suggestions,thumbs up or thumbs down??
many thanks
fred evans
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I have been using Viacad for quite a while now and I really like the interface and ease of use.
It is not an Autocad clone so the transition for an Autocad user might be steeper than mine was.
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Can't speak for Viacad, never used it. If you are proficient with Autocad why even bother using it?
Cambam is fine for milling. The lathe modual is rather limited and was experimental when I last looked at it.
RICH
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Hello Rich--
My autocad is limited to 2D
I need to get into 3D
regards
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Hello Guys-- back again after quite a lengthy absence
about cambam -
I am only using it for a lathe- do i have to have a 3d drawing??
regards
fred
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Fred,
I suggest you log onto the Cambam site forum as there are posts there which talk about using the lathe plug in
and there is info in the manual about it. No 3d required and a profile drawn in 2d will work.
Cambam lathe has a long way to go ....in developement for a year or more....long way to go in my opnion when i looked at it.
Haven't looked at the lathe plug in to see where it is currently.
RICH
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Fred,
I use ViaCad --> Cambam --> Mach 3 for milling on my DIY router/mill. It definitely works. This was my first journey into CAM, and everything worked very well together.
I've used AutoCAD in the past. I now prefer ViaCAD now. Cambam is good, easy to learn, and very logical. However, it doesn't have a visual simulator, so it uses CutViewer, which is an additional cost item. I'm not too fond of CutViewer, but it usually gets the job done.
--Robert
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I use Autocad and CamBam.
Autocad has 3d and isn't all that difficult to use.
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Autodesk was offering a free 3d modeling program 123dAPP
Hal