I also have a full set of full scale Siminoff drawings and a paid seat in Fusion 360, just need to find the time and energy to learn how to turn them into a model, hard to tech old dog new tricks.
Thanks, Pat
In Vcarve you are supposedly limited on number of imported parts into 1 file, and Aspire is unlimited. Carvco+ is unlimited as well I believe, Just something to think about depending what you want it to do, either and all can program what you need.
I am only referring to laying down geometry to either model or toolpath, took me sometime to get used to Aspire, it is different. you have to do everything ( modeling or Toolpath geometry ) in the top plane. I canāt find a way to create other planes. but their way does work, you just got to work at it and get used to it.
Yes Sir, You can program it with them (they already have posts), or you can program it solidworks. People use those programs to cut 3d work all the time. you just need to learn it is all. But they will do what you need to do.
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Iāve been watching some videos and Iām going to download the trial vcarve. Thanks for all of you help. Duane.
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@DuaneOh & @jdfarr1973 Did you ever get a post processor working with SolidWorks Cam?
Care to share?
Iām looking for a good starting post that can get me up and running, then later tinker with it to optimize it for Masso.
i dont program in solidworks, i model in solidworks and program in mastercam. Sorry Bro
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You using the standalone MasterCam, or MasterCAM for SolidWorks?
i have a stand alone mastercam, and a standalone solidworks. so i model up in solidworks, save as a step file and bring in to mastercam.
But the mastercam post should be good, i have had no issue with it and it posts correct. but it is not for solidworks as far as i know. look it up and see if it will work, if it will i dont mind sharing it. but it is only a mastercam post.
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I do know the post is solid thou, I took a mill post from work (with permission) and removed the g43 line, as masso does not recognize a g43. the only thing i have not done is set the 4th axis rotation yet in the post, it is still set to how we run at work, and at work we run all our 4th axis on our mills in opposite direction so if someone steals a program, they are going to atleast scrap the 1st part. i have not had time to run my 4th axis yet on my foreman, we got busy at work.
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No, I abandoned solidworks cam. I first tried Vcarve, but it only accepts STL files and they loose a lot of the modelās features.
I am now using Fusion 360 which accepts Step files and the solidworks step filles come into fusion mostly ready to machine. Sometimes I have to create a sketch in fusion to get the correct boundaries for a tool path. If you have solidworks experience, fusion is pretty easy to learn.
For me not having cam experience, learning the lingo and figuring out machining strategies took some time. Plenty of youtube videos which is very helpful.
Fusion is cloud based which can be frustrating, and cost around $600 yearly but I think it is well worth it. I downloaded the free version to trial and they sent me a 30% off coupon.
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Iām an experienced SolidWorks user, and have been using Fusion since getting my machine 6 months ago. SolidWorks is better for CAD, and Fusion is better for CAM. Iāve used a CAM systems that are embedded in SolidWorks and that is by far the way to go. Exporting and importing files into different software is a pain, and opens up the door to quality issues if the part isnāt programmed the same way - which it practically never is. When the two are embedded into the same program, updating a part seamlessly updates the toolpaths. This saves an incredible amount of time. For hobby work, the exporting/importing is no big deal, but production work and prototype stuff itās a productivity killer.
FYI: Fusion will accept native SolidWorks files, you donāt need to export as a STEP.
Thought I would give SolidWorks CAM a try, as itās included with a SW license, - spent all day on it yesterday and was just about ready to throw the PC out the window. It was awful. I didnāt particularly like the ālet the program try to make toolpaths, but go and fix everything afterā approach. I prefer to be in the drivers seat. Iāve heard some people like it, but their brains must work differently than mine.
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Update - Just saw that importing native SolidWorks files is only available on a Fusion Commercial license. Personal Use licenses are still able to import STEP, IGES, and other universal formats.
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