Smoothcam

[SlaveCam]

I have not used the software but keep noticing that Integrex machinists in our shop keep falling back to Smoothcam even though we have Mill-Turn and I would of course prefer that everything was programmed in Mastercam (and not mix two different cam software). Is it so much easier and faster to use than MC? The problem is that operators come to me asking for drill point coordinates and drill vectors for Smoothcam programming and I have to provide them with printouts from MC.

I know Mill-Turn is not the easiest thing to learn, so how limited is Smoothcam when compared to MC?

[jlw™]

IMO, Smoothcam (I thought it was Mazacam or something like that) is a cancer that allows people to limp around and will always need points or data from another software.  It needs to be kicked out.

[SlaveCam]

My thoughts as well. It is obviously good for the simpler things. Smoothcam as a name is pretty much not recognized by Google so maybe it is a name our local machine tools vendor made up.

[jlw™]

Is this at the machine or in an office?  Mazak has an offline software that is the same as their Mazatrol that suck slightly less.

[gcode]

Isn't it an "at the machine" conversational programming method for knocking out quick and dirty programs

[jlw™]

Yeah, they also offer offline of the same with support for solidis and dxf/dwg.

The conversational is pretty decent but unless you get a part running and program the next part while it's running the machine is usually down for the duration of programming.  NO ONE programs while it's running.

[huskermcdoogle]

7 hours ago, jlw™ said:

NO ONE programs while it's running.

Yeah, that's a dream all shop owners think is so easy.  If you are running production, everything is proven, and you don't have anything to do, (gaging, deburring, packing, loading, cleaning).  Sure I have seen a few people program at the machine while it's running, but the reality is, the only time I have seen that done is when there is an operator doing all the other stuff, and it's just a setup guy getting the next lathe program ready in mazatrol.

[jlw™]

Yeah, the parts are usually simple enough that they program one path at a time and waddle through it then on to the next.

[SlaveCam]

Thanks. I am looking forward to get some quick training in it but I'm quite certain it has no place for complex 5-axis jobs.

[jlw™]

Indexed simple parts are not bad but any complexity and it becomes a train wreck real quick.