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Author Topic: viacad and cambam  (Read 5341 times)

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viacad and cambam
« on: June 22, 2012, 04:06:50 PM »
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
think of the trees-- use both sides of the computer paper
Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2012, 07:33:41 PM »
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.
We never have the time or money to do it right the first time, but we somehow manage to do it twice and then spend the money to get it right.

Offline RICH

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Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2012, 06:44:32 AM »
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
Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2012, 10:37:55 AM »
Hello Rich--
My autocad is limited to 2D
I need to get into 3D

regards
think of the trees-- use both sides of the computer paper
Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2012, 10:08:38 AM »
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
think of the trees-- use both sides of the computer paper

Offline RICH

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Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2012, 12:39:42 AM »
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
Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2012, 09:46:38 PM »
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

Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2012, 06:55:29 PM »
I use Autocad and CamBam.

Autocad has 3d and isn't all that difficult to use.

Offline Hal

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Re: viacad and cambam
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2012, 11:47:15 PM »
Autodesk was offering a free 3d modeling program 123dAPP

Hal