Does anyone know which cad/cam package DOES allow use of the Cuda-based computing?

Mic, I'll run another one and see- I seem to recall, as you discovered, that mc only uses one core, but windows distributes it over all 4, and uses multi-threading- hence the faster times on 4-core multi-thread machines. I am no expert on this, so I will ask my friend if he has time to test the benchmark on his dodecacore and see what it does...

Mic, I think the surface routines are multi-threaded, so it would help any of the routines which use multi-threading... Yes, Cimco is the guys...good stuff...

Evil- not a Win fan myself- But, a friend in Europe has been running a new HP with dual 6-core Xeons and 24 threads running at once- I think it does the benchmark in seconds... They are a partner with HP and are working on the multi-threading apps. I gotta git me one... Currently, $2800 ea for the cpu's.. He says this (mcam) won't take advantage of a Tesla cuda-based machine. Too bad.

Mic, my best has been 1 min 7 sec- Clevo D901C, Xeon 3370, Intel X25m SSD. Its almost 2 yrs old now, so we should be seeing some faster laptops here soon. I wish I knew how to "cluster" this thing with my desktop, like Evil Machinist- the complex 5x and tight surface programs run WAY too slowly. Still, a good fast laptop comes in very handy! If you are looking for less expensive, high quality alternative the $$$ Dells, google "Sager" and check out the new stuff...

I think the dovetails in the Techni-grip have been around for eons- I have an S-26 Master Collet from Hardinge that uses the EXACT style of dovetail clamp to hold the jaw inserts in it. We've "borrowed" the idea for many things... I actually use dovetail jaws in a set of Hilma vises in our 5-axis to clamp blanks- can clamp anything up to about 20in in width with dovetails, just by moving the jaws- no need for different bases, etc... The Hilmas are expensive, but very versatile.. fwiw..

I have never had an end mill pull out of a shrinkfit holder, or had a rigidity problem....plenty of trouble with collets, though...

+1 on the tooling- shrink-fit FTW! But a lot of money....Even the vises for 5x are expensive... So, the machine is only part of the equation- it really needs the best of everything else to be effective.

Bruce, standard is 50 tools with extensions up to 187, I believe....

Ah, I wondered about the C60- I just heard about it myself.... It is probly too large for a toolroom..haha!

Matt, I have a c40u with a pallet changer and 800mm table- I thought that was pretty big till I saw the C60..!! Lucky you to have such good stuff to work with.... Nick, I can't imagine a pallet load of spindles- I'm still on my first one- thanks to a good sim package (Camplete) I know James is believer in Camplete also, and his Matsuura's are good machines. Ron would would definitely be good guy to consult with also, - he has seen a lot of 5x stuff...

I agree with James- depends on what you want to do with it....I also agree that a trunnion is probably more versatile and stiffer than a head machine. The step from even complex 3d sufacing to 5-axis is incredible! There only so many ways to do something with a 3axis machine, but with 5, it almost limitless, therefore can be confusing..the programming involved and learning the limits of positioning on your machine, as well as its language, make for very steep learning curve. I know, I just did it myself. I am lucky to have started with Hermle (Hi Matt!) and very good control -Heidenhain- that makes the setup much easier than most. For instance, id you are surface-finishing a part in 3axis, you have 3 or 4 programming strategies that will work. With 5axis- look at how many different ways you choose to run the toolpath, AND control the tool axis positions----about 30 ways....which is right? which works best? which will keep the machine moving fastest and reach everywhere? Can be daunting. Also you NEED to SPEND MONEY on a POST and SIMULATION PACKAGE!!! I have Camplete for both, and without it, my 700k machine would have been wrecked many times. Sometimes, clearance between tool-fixture-table-spindle can be as little as .010"- if your sim package isn't accurate, thats a crash! In my limited experience, a better machine pays dividends by making the transition easier and get through the work a lot faster and more reliably. For me, a small job shop, getting it done is what makes it work. No fighting rotation points, tool lengths, setup postions, programming restrictions- anything that makes the job easier is worth it in time payback and results. my.02, fwiw...

even easier, use Create Point- Dynamic. Click on your surface, hit the "L" key, put line length in the box in the ribbon bar that shows 2 parallel lines, and boom, line perp to surface or other entity.

Afraid I'm with Chris on this one- I have had Mazaks for 25 years, and would never buy another one- They do NOT want to deal with any problem a smaller shop may have with a new machine. You are supposed to use it as-is and pay for it, but not complain. My last Mazak, I refused to pay for it till it ran, and they really didn't like that at all...pay now, maybe we fix later.... Last time I asked for a quote, they wanted ALL the money up front, and full list price. Obviously don't want me to buy buy any more Mazaks. Fine with me....nobody else I know will, either, if I can help it!

Ron, have you tried making surfaces from the solid, then reversing it to get a new solid? SOmetimes, that works for me....I have the same problem with verify- its so slow as to be nearly useless with any complicated part. I sometimes will make a toolpath as if I were roughing from a cube, verify that and save the result as an stl to use for verifying the actual toolpath. Anything to help it go faster.....

Mitee-bite makes tape that releases clean with heat- they have it on their website- www.miteebite.com

I have only turned it- lathe had no trouble cutting it at all. Use feeds, speeds and tooling for free-cutting copper, minus about 20%. Tools need to be sharp. And SAVE THE CHIPs! Serious beer money...

Hmmm- we used a Sandvik 2.5" high-feed mill to ruf down 1200lb blanks of 304ss- 350 sfm, .05" per tooth, .065" DOC. The cutter was nearly silent except near a shoulder or off the edge. Finished part weighed 22 lb, so a LOT of roughing, but not much noise. What are you guys doing when you get a lot of noise?

Is there a way to get some details on the requirements and pay?

Glenn, is there a description somewhere of what your add-ons do?

+1 Odell !

FWIW, I have had similar probs in the past, and running a c-hook called "rev2rev.dll" helped a lot...

Bruce, we also have mill/turn with bar feed and gantry robot capabilities- my email is steve(at)svp5x.com

How will we know when its out?

Chris- YES! Intel X25m FTW...