Extruding 2D into 3D for less than $500 ????

[johnandrhondawebb@netzero.net]

Visual Mill 4.0 is on sale now for $995, normally $2K ($550 for VM Basic). I ordered it because it works with programs I already know from my dayjob (Rhino, CorelDraw, Canoma).

What caught my eye was version 5.0 (to be released in August) has V-carving built in, imports Rhino 3dm direct, plus it has SB & SB G-Code post processors available for download.

Canoma converts most bitmap formats to 3D DXF, which are directly imported into VM. Yeah, it's a lotta programs, but with access, it was a lot less than the $7500 they're asking for ArtCAM.

I ordered VM from Campbell Designs, because he had 2 copies left which were upgradeable to V5 for $500. Normal upgrade would be $995.

[gerald_d]

What happened to TurboCadCam? Does any SB'er use it? I thought that it had a very good chance of success because it was based on a very popular CAD package.

Should we revive this thread again?

[toys]

I don't think TurboCadCam has much utility for a ShopBot since it dosn't have a method to generated shopbot code. So your limited to shopbots ux command for converting the files. So you probably would have to explode all arc's circles ect.

[gerald_d]

TurboCadCam has (had?) a facility for a user to write a "post-processor" so that it would output any machine code. But, even the forum on TurboCadCam seems to have disappeared?

[artisan]

IMSI has a peculiar way with their software. Often the different versions of Turbocad are not backwards compatible with each other and now TurboCadCam http://www.turbocadcam.com/ seems to be a stepchild with it's own site....but it's not listed in the IMSI product line on their main site. The price has plummeted from 1950.00 to under 400.00 in just a year as well. I'd be very skeptical of investing in it now....D

[charles48]

Do any Shopbotters have experience with DesignCad by Upperspace? I have learned both the 2D and 3D program. I am interested in getting a Shopbot and software to convert my drawings into tool paths.

[beacon14]

I use DesignCad 2D almost exclusively to create parts and shapes, and then either use the dxf converter in the ShopBot software, or use PartWizard to create a toolpath. Part Wizard will take your dxf file from DesignCad and profile, pocket, trace vectors, offset for tool diameter, mind cutting direction, etc. and then output a ShopBot file directly.
What I'm getting at is that DesignCad, PartWizard, and ShopBot work pretty much seamlessly together for 2D work. I can't vouch for 3D work as it's out of my area of expertise, but I know of at least a couple of other ShopBotters who use DesignCad.
E-mail me if you have more specific questions

[harold_weber]

Here's an addition to what David has said. I've created both 2D and 3D part files starting with Design CAD.

Been using Design CAD since 1989, much more so since I bought a ShopBot. Can't say this is the best CAD program, I use it because I know how to use it. Their tech support has always been prompt and helpful.

You export from Design CAD to a .dxf file. Chris Burns (ShopBot guru) told me to use Version 13 of .dxf format, so select this when this window comes up. Not sure Version 13 format is necessary, but it works 4 me. As David says, this will get your 2D files into Part Wizard, which will create the tool path for you. Never had any problems here.

To get 3D cut files, the following works for me:

1. Draw 3D part in Design CAD.
2. Export as .dxf file
3. Convert to .stl file using Accutrans (a very inexpensive file converter).
4. Import .stl file into Mill Wizard, which creates the cut file for you. A note here: Mill Wizard will import .dxf files directly which led me to believe that I could get to Mill Wizard directly from Design CAD. This did not work. After some questions to tech support, found that there are several versions of .dxf files, and the .dxf files that Design CAD exports are not what Mill Wizard wants. Step 3 takes care of this, and was suggested by the Design CAD folks.

Steps 3 and 4 can be done using the free trial version of Accutrans and Mill Wizard, but you cannot save the Mill Wizard cut file with the trial version. However, Mill Wizard has a simulator which will let you see what the cut part will look like.

To totally convince myself that all this would work, I found a very kind and generous 'botter who cut a test 3D file for me in styrofoam. Ordered my ShopBot within a month after this.

Haven't been sorry.

[charles48]

David & Harold
Thanks for all your info. Above and beyond the call of duty and very interesting.
Charlie

[artisan]

Just an addendum out of fairness to an earlier post here and some disparaging remarks I made about TurboCadCam. It seems that IMSI has released an updated version and is going to stay the course with the product. I've yet to try it, but it looks a little more promising....and still inexpensive. Here's a new review....D