Mastercam / Surfcam

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Hello everyone,

 

I am in a unique situation over here. I have been at this company for about 14 months and have just about totaly converted everything here to Mastercam with great success. Like most shops we have multiple cam softwares available. We have a new programmer here that is a very good machinist and programmer with a great reputation. The thing is that he is a Surfcam Guy. He is willing to switch to Mastercam if it is more powerfull/Better. He says that if I can prove that it is better then he will be glad to switch. Since I do not know anything about Surfcam, I am at a loss for what to tell him.

 

Would anyone know how Surfcam's 2003 3axis plus software compares. I have noticed that it is very nice for 2d stuff but how is it on complex stuff.

 

We agree that Mastercam beats it in a few ways so far:

1) It has an Integrated Solid package

2) Highfeed

3) The Verify is much better

 

Does anyone have any other things that I could show him? Like maybe something that Surfcam can not cut?

 

Thanks for any help,

 

Mike

[kamman25]

Why are you trying to convert him? he should be trying to convert you. make him prove surfcam is better than mastercam

[Rekd™]

LoL, kamman

 

Got VBS?

 

Got custom posts?

 

Got support?

 

Got milk?

[Thad]

quote:

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Got support?

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Does Surfcam have an online discussion forum with over 8800 registered members that offers 24 hour tech support (including all major holidays)...and even a few off topic threads?

 

Thad

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Around here Surfcam has the worst support and Mastercam has the best.

 

What I need is better objective evidence. He has lots of things in Surfcam that are very nice.

 

What I need is some stuff that Surfcam can't cut.

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Mike

[crazy^millman]

Tell him that he job is not going ot be phased out.

Tell him that he will have his job if he uses Mastecam.

Tell him that he can do if he tries.

Tell him that he can do anything he wants with Mastercam.

Tell him that he should go with the #1 Cam software out there.

Tell him the more systems he knows the more money he can ask for.

Tell him yeah to show you Mastercam can't do the same as Surfcam.

Tell him he can't use Mastercam because he would never figure it out.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Millman, he is a good guy. I just want to shown him a few examples.

 

Like Rekd said, I bet they don't have vbs. I also be they don't have all of the powerfull C-hooks like FPLOT and all of the other third party software.

 

Mike

[Rekd™]

Got cookies?

[gcode]

I don't know anything about Surcam so I googled it. I got 2 foriegn websits, a dealer in San Diego

and a whole bunch of porno webcam sites.

So I still don't know anything about Surfacm.

The best aurgument I can give is that Mastercam

is growing and Surfcam is not. There is a lot more work out there for Mastercam guys than there is for Surfcam.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

This is true

 

Thanks

[mmonica]

I would think a good programmer would enjoy learning new software. I've been on MasterCAM from V3. I would accept learning surfcam has a challange. It's the same with machine controls, I always enjoy learning a new control.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Thanks mmonica. The issue is that he thinks that Mastercam is not as powerfull as Surfcam and therefor thinks we should be using Surfcam.

[P_Scott]

Michael,

 

Here's a challenge. Take the same part, program it at the same time, you with Mcam and allow him to use Surfcam. See which one is faster and better quality. Then change a feature on the model and see how Surfcam deals with edits. If you change the same model in Mcam, you will be able to simply Regen the operations and be done. Can Surfcam do that? How about selecting solids for toolpaths and making a change to the solid and regenerating the toolpath? Can Surcam do that? Oh that's right. Surfcam just does surfaces.

 

Seriously, the best thing would be to sit him down for a demo from your reseller and show him what Mcam can do. The reseller should be qualified to answer any of his questions, even if the reseller hasn't ever worked with Surfcam before. There may be things that you don't know Mcam can do but he will see it as a reason for not using it if it's not shown to him. Then you can always ask him if there's a support forum like this for Surfcam on the web. HTH

[cadist]

Well, I have seen surfcam work. And I think followings are some powerfull differences.

 

Backplot time.

Tools with feed and speed parameter defined

2D Swept and coons toolpath

STL comparision.

 

Well these are really big difference.

[crazy^millman]

I was not trying to not call him a good guy but Mastercam will do anything Surfcam will and more. I am working on a mold right now that is about 200mb of NC code and it is all solids that I working from no surfaces. I have no problems with gaps and translations from and iges file I seem to always get suing surface. I can add and subract features in a flash with Mastercam. I have hired a guy that use Gibbs and he is totally amazed wit h the control and the certainty that Mastercma gives you. He is also amwazed we run machine for 20 to 100 hours un attented and have no crashes or problems. I do not know how there posts work but I can tell you that I really dig Mastercam posts and if I can get one working pretty good for a 5 axis machine to me that says alot. We run very complex 3d surface parts here tha can have upwards of 12 to 20000 surfaces no problem. I will say I also do alot of 5 axis work and the limits with mastercam there are the person imagination. I also do 4th axis work and can doo all the isde of a part with only one part no need to turn the part and get the code the operations and the things I need no problem. If you do mold works ask him do they have Moldplus that can be added to Surfcam? We have it here and with that tool alone you blow away alot of the competion. Good luvk and if you need have the dealer come in and show him what it can do I think he will be hard to switch but in time will realize it was the best choice.

[TREV]

why not just simply say if you want the job mastercam is the software he will use .if he wants to use surf cam so bad why is he appling for a mastercam job?

trevor

[Thad]

Can you show him some of the powerful surfacing tools that Moldplus has?

 

Thad

[Dan_AKA_ROY]

Trev is right on!

 

If he insists on using Surfcam, find a job that uses surfcam. If Surfcam is so good, why is he applying for a job whose company uses Mastercam? I'm confused...Oh, wait! I see now! More jobs available using MC! Why are more shops using MC over Surfcam? [hint hint]

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

This is all very great input!

 

Thanks for all of the help so far Forum members!

 

The more actual specifics the better.

 

After a few days I will compile a list and we will all look at it.

 

Got to go,

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[mold100]

Get the torches ready:

 

I like the way you set up planes better in surfcam than mastercam, I am proficient with both but that is the ONLY benifit of the 2, ask him how well thier 2 or 3 surface cutting paths that acually put down decent pant, surfcam is good if you countour and paralle cut everything other than that put it back on the shelf with bobcad and Smartcam.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Everyone,

 

I am going to get ideas from everyones input here and assemble a test program. We all know that Mastercam will win!. At this point he will be glad to switch.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[Dan_AKA_ROY]

quote:

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At this point he will be glad to switch.

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Thats nice that "he" will be glad to switch. Sounds like anarchy rules in your place of business! I mean, can do 'only if he decides'?

 

what's he applying for? CEO?

[crazy^millman]

These 3 reasons right here should be enough in my book:

quote:

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We agree that Mastercam beats it in a few ways so far:

1) It has an Integrated Solid package

2) Highfeed

3) The Verify is much better

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But hey that is just me.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

This is a hard one to answer Roy_23. It is kind of like he is a very well known professional so he gets the respect he deserves. IOW, we want him to switch because he wants to.

 

Thanks

[Scott Bond]

quote:

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What I need is some stuff that Surfcam can't cut.

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Power user vs. Power user, both will be able to cut anything on the planet.