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CAM suggestions

bigseb

bigseb

Alibre Super User
I'm currently using mastercam. It's ok-ish, not great, not terrible. The topic came up recently of possible switching to another software. I have used others in the past, including powermill, creo parametric, catia, vero and few others. Curious what others here on the forum might recommend. Must do 2,5, 3 and 5 axis. Nothing mickey mouse or budget.
 
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tk1247

Member
I've used VisualCadCam by Mecsoft for several years now and have been quite satisfied with it. I've only used it for personal projects (milling, turning) up to 3d (it does up to 5 axis), importing step files from AD. What attracted me was a pretty intuitive learning curve, reasonable pricing, and perpetual licensing. There is annual maintenance available for major updates and new versions, but not required.
Surprised you're not happy with MasterCam - I've always heard it's the best. I couldn't afford it.
 
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UGMENTALCASE

Senior Member
Estlcam is good for 2.5d, has a 3d stl machining thing going on as well.
I also use EcamV5. Recently changed their license model so you have a mill and lathe hobby license for £150 I think. Load in step files, click surfaces to machine and so on. Pretty good, has a simulator built in as well as a live material remove thing, so when you stick a pocket in for example it cuts it out so you can see the f difference between the stock and the model you imported. Also has a draw function if you want to do something quick
 
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EPowIPi

Senior Member
I hear good things about NX, they had a course for that at the maker space. Occurred actually quite intuitive/tidied up to me for the amount of features. But we just scratched the surface. Not in my price league anyways (I am mostly using Condacam or Fusion). But it is probably best to make a list of things you really need additionally / different from Mastercam, I guess that makes the choice much easier.
 
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ematty

New Member
I'm running GibbsCam and find it to be great. A lot of 3 and 5 axis work here.
I also use full simulation and it has saved me a ton of headaches.
 
bigseb

bigseb

Alibre Super User
tk1247 said:
Surprised you're not happy with MasterCam - I've always heard it's the best. I couldn't afford it.
Click to expand...
Definitely not the best. It's not terrible but it has quirks that cost me time. Some toolpaths don't calculate the way other software does and it's a time sink to do some workaround. Especially the 3D paths aren't great. Crashes a fair bit too.

And... because it's American software I can't use the comma but have to use a point. However German keyboards don't have a point at the numerical keypad but a comma. Really annoying. And if I remap the point to the comma then every other bit of software doesn't work.
 
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JimCad

Senior Member
I use Vectric Aspire. It's great for 3D carving stuff but only does 3 axis so not really what you're after I guess.

Jim
 
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tk1247

Member
bigseb said:
Definitely not the best. It's not terrible but it has quirks that cost me time. Some toolpaths don't calculate the way other software does and it's a time sink to do some workaround. Especially the 3D paths aren't great. Crashes a fair bit too.

And... because it's American software I can't use the comma but have to use a point. However German keyboards don't have a point at the numerical keypad but a comma. Really annoying. And if I remap the point to the comma then every other bit of software doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Mecsoft is also an American company, I believe, but I just looked at their website, and they do have a German Language Installer, so perhaps that would take care of the comma thing. They have a trial option that lets you try the full version for a while. I have not experienced crashes, and the toolpaths have been pretty good, but I am not a power user, so can't speak to how efficient they are. It gets the job done for me. They have an e-store with pricing (currently on sale) - you'd need Premium version to get 5 axis. I didn't mention before, but I like that they have a G-code editor, toolpath and machine simulator as well.
 
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MikeHenry

Alibre Super User
If you are in Europe, you might look at SprutCAM or Ency; Encywhich looks like the successor to SprutCAM. The company is based in Cyprus but has Russian origin, in case that matters to you.
 
bigseb

bigseb

Alibre Super User
Since the current CAD software used is Solidworks I've heard Solidworks cam (Solidcam? is there a difference?) is being mentioned. Personally I'm in favour of a non-foreign route... something like Tebis.
 
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EPowIPi

Senior Member
"ENCY includes an NC-code based simulation and verification feature, allowing users to accurately simulate and validate the actual G-code to ensure precise and error-free machining operations before execution on the CNC machine."
This sounds promising, one of the main reasons why I chose Condacam which also simulates based on the actual G-code. So one can even edit on G-code level and still get an accurate simulation of what is likely going to happen on the machine.
Was evaluating SprutCAM (the predecessor of ENCY) a few years back. Central sales contacted me. I wrote back that I would be interested in a 4 axis license for my hobby purposes. She wrote that the German reseller will contact me. Which he never did. Probably they considered "hobby" and their prices as so incompatible that it wasn't even worth to send me a quote. Well, then not :)
 
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MikeHenry

Alibre Super User
EPowIPi said:
"ENCY includes an NC-code based simulation and verification feature, allowing users to accurately simulate and validate the actual G-code to ensure precise and error-free machining operations before execution on the CNC machine."
This sounds promising, one of the main reasons why I chose Condacam which also simulates based on the actual G-code. So one can even edit on G-code level and still get an accurate simulation of what is likely going to happen on the machine.
Was evaluating SprutCAM (the predecessor of ENCY) a few years back. Central sales contacted me. I wrote back that I would be interested in a 4 axis license for my hobby purposes. She wrote that the German reseller will contact me. Which he never did. Probably they considered "hobby" and their prices as so incompatible that it wasn't even worth to send me a quote. Well, then not :)
Click to expand...

SprutCAM is sold at a very attractive price in the US to Tormach owners. Tormach are the SprutCAM distributors in the US. Licenses are perpetual with free "point" updates and a fairly modest cost for major updates.

Ency is considerably more expensive in the US and is on a subscription basis, I think.
 
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EPowIPi

Senior Member
Good to know! The program made a promising first impression. Perhaps I misinterpreted the radio silence and my "case" was accidentally stranded somewhere. But the programs I have now are sufficient for my current use case.
Why does everything have to become a subscription? Particularly for a program like a CAM software that has all the features I need at some point - from which on I essentially just pay for stuff I already paid for, again and again. I understand the rationale of the companies. Well, a unique selling point for the few that still offer perpetual licenses then I guess...
 
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msmith9744

New Member
bigseb said:
Since the current CAD software used is Solidworks I've heard Solidworks cam (Solidcam? is there a difference?) is being mentioned. Personally I'm in favour of a non-foreign route... something like Tebis.
Click to expand...
SolidCam is an American software and is being added at a 2 1/2 axis level to SolidWorks Profession under SolidWorks Cam for free. I have a makers license of Solidworks which includes a subscription of the Delmia Shop Floor Programmer. This software appears to be pretty powerful but doesn't seem very intuitive. The Delmia software doesn't seem to be available commercially in the States, only in Europe.
 
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jduran02

Member
Hi, I was a French user of AlibreCam when Mecsoft still sold it. It was the best Cad Cam solution because fully integrated in Alibre. All modifications on the 3d model are quickly regenerate the tool path without loosing properties. Unfortunately they stop it in 2020 and now you can only buy the standalone VisualCam but you have to import 3d file.
I hope one day a fully integrated cam module will be back in Alibre !
 
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H.C

Member
Ency has a Alibre importer (as many others) when change & save the model in alibre you will be notified in Ency cam & can update it. (no need to save as .step)

Ency/Sprutcam: Subscription based, NOT in Europe.
Went for Sprutcam 5XMill few years ago...was the only one where i got a Quote without first fill in a bunch of questions... :D
... for few features you need a maintenance fee.
5 axis toolpaths are in house made (no Moduleworks plug in)
Looks nice for sure...
 
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