Hi! I’m using Rcam pro version for few years. To decide what software to go with depends on type of work. We are machineshop with good CNC mills (not Haas). The advantage of Rcam is the ease of use and short learning curve. I never took any course for Rcam. There are lot of options to machine, however, some of them work ok but some of them make life little difficult. Generally the 2 1/2 axis is not too bad and lots of room for customized canned cycles. Many other Cam software does not offer post processor editor.The 3 axis machining has also lots of options, however, not all of them work properly or satisfactory, but bottom line it will do the job. For what I heard from other people I know for 3 axis work Delcam is the solution. I can live with Rcam for the work we do and the good part is that the techsupport is really good. I’m dealing with the same person for the most part. The other good thing with Mecsoft that they listen and implementing new features. Since I’m using the software they implemented quite few new features which some of them was my idea. Of course they still need some tweaking but at least they work on it. The pro software is fairly cost effective for maintenance and techsupport compare to others. I tried different Cam softwares but there is not too many I like. Many of them hard to learn and cheesy graphics. I guess as much money that much music…
When I’ve been checking out different cam packages I enjoyed madcam the most. It was not overly complex , but also not overly simplified and with no annoying wizards.
When I first saw madCAM it was a lot like the first time I saw Rhino. It seemed pretty simple and not much to it until I started investigating. Then I discovered that there is way more to it then first meets the eye.
I’ve been using RhinoCam for ten years and it’s always done what it said it would. I stopped upgrading years ago as the extra features didn’t seem worth the money (I’m now running Rhino 5 for drawing and Rhino4 for RhinoCam - not ideal I admit). I do 2D & 3D stuff; some of the 3D stuff pretty complex. It’s been good for me, I haven’t got any other software that hasn’t been upgraded in that time. But maybe MadCam would have been equally good.
I like the images of machining between two lines shown above, something I’ve wished for for a while. Maybe it’s time to look around for new software, but I can’t help wondering if the improvements would be worth $2k to me. How good can it get? (I guess that’s what trial software’s for).
John
Hi Nick,
I was wrong about madCAM’s ability to create a tool path that follows the isocurves. Joakim just produced a video to address this issue. As it turns out, the drive surface functionality will do exactly what you suggest.
I apologize for misleading you on this topic. This was an educational video for me as well.
Dan
More on the subject of madCAM drive surfaces:
Thanks Dan.
This is an interesting concept. It seems to be a combination of an inverse of “check regions”, (areas that the toolpath must avoid), and a way of mapping isocurves onto a mesh or a NURBS polysurface. A bit complicated to set up but I can see it would be very flexible.
Nick
Hi Roland, I could connect you with RhinoCAM customers who are able to answer your questions about the two systems. Just drop me a note.
Best regards,
Ulrich Oehler
Do you think Joakim will implement something like this for 3 axis machining, at the moment it only in the 5 axis extra and it’s a bit hard to justify the extra cost if you don’t have a 5 axis mill.
Mark.
I can’t say for sure. However, if what the video illustrated is crucial to your workflow, I would say that probably does justify the cost, even without a 5-axis machine. If it’s just occasionally that this would come up, you might want to focus on the method I illustrated above (using the Project Curves toolpath).
dan
Hello please help me I am confuse. I have trails version of Rhinoceros ver7 and madcam5x
Do i need both of them to work? I do like the madcam because I believe it can do the 5 axis simultaneously and the Rhino can only do 3 axis then 2 Axis ‘to make it 5 axis’ is that correct? - also does the madcam 5extra available for student version? I knew the madcam 5x is available to student. Thanks in advance
Yes, you need Rhino to run madCAM. I’m not sure if there is an educational version for the 5Xtra version. You may have to contact Joakim to ask that question.
This was his e-mail address last time I conversed with him:
Thanks - I look at their price list and there is not an option for 5axtra for student - so only 5x is for student. But it is plenty for me to learn as I am beginner and in school to learn the 5 axis.
Thank you for your info - I got approved for MADCAM student version - they gave me MADCAM 7 ’ free upgrade - Student version only support the 5X (NOT THE % EXTRA) version - thanks so much now I am going to learn the MADCAM - the problem is I have to get familiar with RHINO 7 FIRST - Wow did not realize what I am getting into - have to learn these Rhini 7 & Madcam 7 and the Mach3 (which I never learn before)
Keep using this forum as you learn. You will find it very helpful. For madCAM issues you should go to cnczone.com. There is a madCAM forum there. There is not as much traffic as here, but it can be helpful.
Good luck on your new adventure.
Dan
I did signup with cnczones/madcam — thanks for your info 