Solidworks or Mastercam

[CNCMike]

Hello everyone,

I am a newbie who was directed here by the user name "cadcam" over on CNCZone (cadcam is on this board also). Cadcam has been more than helpful, but I wanted to spread the load of questions to others who can help.

 

I am as new as they come when using Mastercam and would like to know what you design in and why. I use Solidworks and import the files into Mastercam (parasolid). I do this because we have models previously designed in Solidworks.

 

In the future would it be a better choice to design in Mastercam? Yes? No? Why? Why not? It seems either way works, but there may be an advantage to one?

 

Thanks in advance for your help, Mike

[MACHINEMASTERG]

if your already using SW i would stick with that its much better at modeling them mastercam ,why because thats what it was meant to do macam is more machining driven i use its design ability to help me along for my machining

[MACHINEMASTERG]

welcome to the forum also lots of knowledgable people here always willing to help

[htm01]

depends what design, we build molds that no way could you design the cavity in Mastercam so we use Solidworks

[Guest]

I do any designing I have at all in Solidworks and Solidworks only.

 

You can open your SW files directly into to Mastercam as an .sldprt file, no need to export out of SW as a parasolid, unless you are using reference coordinate position.

 

quote:

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but there may be an advantage to one?

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Parametric modeling, a better stronger interface, a vastly superior "CAD" product, Solidworks

 

Mastercam is a vastly superior CAM product compared to SW

[Namliek_J@TheeCircle™]

Although MasterCAM has modeling capabilities, its real function is that of a programming software for CNC machining centers.

 

SW is a modeling software that is used for modeling, and that is about it.

 

Nothing wrong with designing in SW and importing to MCAM.

 

Just my .02 cents HTH

[J Coulston]

Solidworks only, here as well.

[gcode]

Solidworks for design

Mastercam for machining

[CNCMike]

Thank you for all the quick replies! It looks like I will stick with Solidworks for design. The Mastercam tutorials deal a lot with design, so I will apply the tutorials (CAM portion) to solidworks models I already have.

 

Thanks for the help, Mike

[RandyN]

I have designed molds and dies for many years using mastercam, so it can be done. Mostly because I started machining first for many years and then as I started doing more of the design end, I still used mc because it worked out well for the cnc guys when i had everything set up in mc already. Now I am using Solidworks for design, but I have a seat of mc design too with all the translators, art, moldplus, etc. to use if and when I need too.

 

Mastercam surfacing is pretty good at this point, there isn't much I can't draw in it, but I will admit Solidworks is the way to go for pure design...

[SydwazShawn]

Hey CNCMIKE! I had that same question myself, and quickly found out that I definitely want to buy a seat of Solidworks. I have only used MC for my modeling, but I think it would be worth it to me to learn solid works, just for the assy and boms you can do in it. I would say you’re on the write track; stick with solid works and learn to tool path on MC.

 

I would like to throw something out though. If you bring models in and you need to add certain geo to drive the toolpathes, it might be beneficial to learn how to do some things in MC so you don’t have to export import all the time. I would like to know what other people on this board do when they have this scenario as well.

[Tinhman]

+1, Solidworks. Mc will be integrated into solidworks. Check out this link.

http://www.designworldonline.com/ArticleDe...cid=245&id=1678

Tinhman

[sharles]

I don't get to do any design here. But I still do a lot of surface creation, repair work from bad translations, prep for machining in mastercam, etc.. Once I get a file from my designers, mastercam has all the tools I need to make the part machinable.

[cadcam]

RandyN I have been in the same boat. used mastercam for Mold making sense the start for me.

Moldplus is the tool to make it faster.

 

Mike I see you found your way.

 

I am in the middle of a SW class to get better acquainted and start doing some design in it and soon play with pathing in it to.

[K10LT1]

Any body have any input on SolidCAM. SW's cam package. I was at the Mold Expo in Novi, MI this week and talked with them for a while. It looked allright.

[cadcam]

I woild hold of and use mastercam inside SW instead sense you know how to use that correct?