Is Mastercam right for me for 5 axis?

[mattmann]

Hi I was informed about this page and am looking at this MasterCam Router Pro package and Powermill 5. We are looking at the software to trim fiberglass parts and cut MDF patterns. We are purchasing a 5 axis twin table Thermwood CNC.

 

The questions:

Is the Router PRO package easy to use?

Has anyone used the Powermill (Delcam) package?

What about the ease of getting a post processor that works?

What else do I neek to look at?

What are the benefits of one over the other?

 

My companies under construction site is www3.telus.net/rbprice

 

Please help

 

Matthew

[Post dept]

This may not mean much coming from a Mastercam guy but as far as posts are concerned....

 

5-Axis Powermill (Delcam) posts will cost you a lot and you will have a difficult time getting customization/modifications and support.

 

A Mastercam post will also cost a lot however you will get EXACTLY what you want, and support/post tweaks will be easy to get.

 

I see this all the time.

 

Brett

[crazy^millman]

Well I have a model 67 Thermwood 5' x 10' machine here. I use to run the same machien back in Jacksonville. I could and would not even try to thin kof runnign that machine without Mastercam. Everyone can say what they want about other software but I just made a Mastermodel out of ABS that was 22" x 19" x 17" and it was a pretty trick part here take a look:

 

 

That was all programmed in Mastercam and if you get the right post you will have nothing but smooth sailing once you understnad what you are doing with the software. Something else that si cool about Mastercam. All 3d toolpaths are usable as 5 axis toolpath as well as all the full 5th axis toolpaths that are there that kick soem serious but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mattmann]

The Delcam reseller keeps pitching that the post is guarenteed to work the second time if there is an error. Although I am still trying to beat the price out of him. I know the posts for master cam are like 5k depending on who writes it and are just expensive.

[Post dept]

5K?! Where did number come from?...The Delcam guy?

 

Brett

[mattmann]

Don't remember I think that was Mastercam. Where can I get a thermwood post processor?

 

Twin table 5' x 10' x 4' (z) 5 axis machine

 

I am on the west coast of Canada!

[Post dept]

Your reseller could certainly arrange that for you.

 

Brett

[mattmann]

You had mentioned you have a model 67 That is what we just purchased but made it a 4 foot z axis. How do you like the machine?

[crazy^millman]

I have got a 3' z travel machine here. I build riser boxes for my small part and just kick my accelertion factors in for tall parts.

[Toolfab]

HIGHJACK

 

Ron, thats a pretty sweet looking part. Whats it for? Or would you have to kill me if you told me..

[mold100]

I told mattmann to check the forum out in a personal e-mail to help him make his decision a little easier hopefully for the better, this started in an mmsonline forum.I hope this helps him with what he needs.

 

Mastercam I am am biased is the way to go but good

luck in which you chose I figured the best thing was to see the support first hand.

[crazy^millman]

I can say it is part of as toy and that is about it. If you knew what they gave that away for it would make you sick to your stomach.

[mayday]

Ron, dont sell yourself cheap out there.

that is one kick arse part. guys that can do that dont walk in a shop every day ya know . I have shown a few projects but they dont compare to your 5 axis stuff. good work buddy

[crazy^millman]

Well I am on hour 28 right now and had 17 hours the day before. I didnt get my #@%$#^%$#^%#$%$^%^#$ over time on this check. I was taking today off here I am finish their **^**(&*$*&&%^&%#^ part that they said could be done and us really wihtout a machine big enough to do the part. I am using a freaking right angle head right now to get it done. I think I will just be off all next week and see how well that sit in their crawl if you knwo what I mean. That was the easy side there May^day the other side had a cavity and cut out for a seat to go in all radius and everything. I will put up some pics over the weekend.

[mold100]

Ron,

 

Didnt the wife tell you not to come without the o.t. $$ or a new job?

[Camfun]

A friend here in my city works with Powermill now, and in the past, we work together with Mastercam.

He said for me that Powermill it´s a dung , sorry the word, but I give a look, and I agree with him.

The Mastercam post processors structure is longer very better, and you

quote:

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will get EXACTLY what you want,

---

, the Powermill posts it´s not powerfully adjustable like Mastercam, and the support for Mastercam it´s famous between customers in the world for your efficacy.

My resseler, Ascongraph, it´s great.

Mastercam have a learning curve very fast, the 2d toolpaths, like a drilling and pockets, contours, it´s very easy of use and configurable, while in powermill, a simple drilling it´s very boring to do.

I have assurance, that you don´t go regret for choice the router package.

 

Mastercam have approximately 74.000 seats in the world, how much seat have Powermill?

 

Look the statistics in main page of emastercam.com or here Cimdata and you see.

 

It will be that 74.000 companies are wrong?

It will be that put your money in the trashcan?

 

Analyse for more a few days this forum, and you see what I say.

 

I don´t post this words to offend who use Powermill or Powermill customers, but the true, always it´s the true.

 

Regards

 

 

Camfun teh Mastercam

[MATT Q]

I have also been programming thermwood model 67 with all kinds of configurations we have 17 machines in this plant. Mastercam is the way to go.

[MATT Q]

Hey Ron,

you got a toolchanger on that thing?

[crazy^millman]

But of course and the touch setter.

[crazy^millman]

Yeah Mold she is there right now. She is saying either I get the 7 weeks off they owe me or the money or it is not going to work out. She is not happy at all and I don't blame becuase I am not either. I am dead tired right now and feel lucky I picked up an operator that is good as they come. He is the guy I have been let use my seat to do some programing and he is doing good. I think in another month of so I can lok at getting a 3rd seat or the net-hasp if things are to my wife's liking by that point.

[crazy^millman]

May^Day and others here is a link to some more pics of that part. bottom front top

[chimera]

I am new to this forum. I have recently received quotes for 5-axis packages for Powermill, Mastercam, and Surfcam. The prices I was quoted for posts are $1500, $825, and $2500 respectively. I want to do simultaneous 5-axis machining of Titanium 6-4. I need excellent surface finish and high throughput. Does anyone have experience with 5-axis simultaneous machining with Mastercam? If so, are you happy with the software? Any experiences with Surfcam?

Thanks!

[chimera]

Now I read the forum rules!!! Sorry for the comments about price quotes. Just pointing out that Mastercam seems like a bargain when it comes to posts (or customizing of posts). Won't happen again.

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

I have been programming 5ax with Mastercam since ver 3.11 when curve 5 was a chook. I can program anything in Mastercam now, and usually have 2-3 different options to machine a part.

 

Something the competitiors wont tell you. Mastercam has a boston 5ax in basement of there corporate offices. When it comes to developing usable toolpaths there is none other that caqn test them at their own facility.

 

The programmer and the app guys and machine are all under one roof.

[gcode]

quote:

---

I want to do simultaneous 5-axis machining of Titanium 6-4. I need excellent surface finish and high throughput. Does anyone have experience with 5-axis simultaneous machining with Mastercam?

---

I spent most of last year programming Ti armour

plate for the F-22 and the Comanche for an SNK

3 spindle 5X gantry mill.

I have never used any other CAM system so I can't

give give you an apples/oranges comparison.

I checked out Powermill's webiste and it looks pretty impressive.

I can tell you that Mastercam does the job and does it well.

If you are in Southern California you will be getting your post from Glen Stephens of Cad/Cam

Consulting. He is a "Certified Post Wizard". He has written 3 posts for my employeer and just quoted a 4th. My only beef with Glen is he is so busy he's quoting 6 week delivery these day's