Inventor and CNC

[SuperCAD]

We're currently using plain ol' AutoCAD and we've been looking at different programs to help us automate the CNC production of our products. Apparently, my peers (well before I was hired) have already pushed for ProLignum and spent well over $30,000 for a paperweight since they couldn't get it to work properly. Now, they're looking at Microvellum since it boasts a "screen to machine" automation that can spit out the programming to our CNC machine. I'm not sure how much it costs though.

 

Now, I've been watching videos of Inventor, and I'm curious to know if it also has CNC integration. I'd much rather stick with an Autodesk product since it will have a familiar feel to it. If anyone can help me make up their mind, I'd appreciate it.

[quamper]

I don't use Microvellum but I'm familiar with it. It is quite pricey from what I understand.

 

However if you like Autocad that is one benefit of it though since it works directly inside of Autocad.

 

From what you are saying if all you need is a program to generate parts for your CNC Microvellum may be overkill, if you don't need it to do submittals as well.

 

It may also depends on what brand CNC you are using. Your best bet would probably be to talk to the manufacturer of your CNC and ask what they recommend.

[shift1313]

what cnc are you using? I currently use Mastercam to take my dwg file into cnc. I also have Unigraphics which is very powerful but very picky. and Solidcam being installed very soon(nested in solidworks).

 

Mastercam has its glitches but you can get into a very basic packages for a few grand i think(2d only) and you can add on from there.

 

 

The cheapest thing i have seen out there is BobCad-cam. I think the full package is $499.

 

most places will give you a trial and i would do that.

 

I have used mastercam for up to 4axis machining on a vertical Hass mill(4th axis was rotary).

 

I dont really like mastercam because it always seems like i need the next package up but i will say their tech support is excelent. They will hold webmeetings with you(watch their desktop) and walk you through anything you need.

[SuperCAD]

I think the machine we have is a Morbidelli. They recommended a program call A-Span and that's what we're using now.

 

Our current process is for the CAD department to generate drawings, then the project managers create cut lists (or machining requests), then our CNC operator has to program the designs in to A-Span, then the Morbidelli spits out the parts. We're hoping to eliminate the cut listing and programming and have CAD produce something that can be imported into A-Span or some other program so the CNC guy doesn't have to redraw everything.

[shift1313]

that definitely increases errors taking those extra steps. Mastercam is good about importing parts. I know the new version will even import history from solidworks. The only thing i found i cant import is a .prt file from unigraphics. Mastercam will also recognize surfaces and not just solid parts so you can pick up on surface geometry.

 

From what you mentioned above couldnt your CAD people just use Aspan? im sorry im not familiar with any of those softwares.

[SuperCAD]

The problem with A-Span is that it doesn't recognize 3D geometry from solid parts. You have to send a 2D DXF file to the program and the lines need to have different "thicknesses" in order for the program to associate a depth to the cut. You still need someone to specify the size bit to use and how wide the cut has to be. It sounds like a pain, and will probably cause more problems than we would be able to financially tolerate. I need to be able to send a 3D model of a part out to the CNC and have the software figure out how to cut it.

[shift1313]

i dont know of any software out there that will automatically decide how to cut a part. If you find one let me know. There is a good bit involved in making a usable NC file. I have used OMAX software which is good at cleaning up and using dxf files to waterjet 2d parts. When you get into 3d stuff there is nothing i know of that will associate geometry without you telling it what to do.

 

Having said that it doesnt take long at all to create a file in mastercam(for me). I have used it on 3 and 4 axis machining. Really it takes more time to setup the tool turret and all the offsets of our bits because they usually change all the time. For instance the camera housing i made on friday used 10 different bits. For me to program the 3 different parts of the housing(1 had to machined on two sides) took less than an hour and probably led to about 4hrs of machine time.

[swestbrook60]

i dont know of any software out there that will automatically decide how to cut a part. If you find one let me know. There is a good bit involved in making a usable NC file. I have used OMAX software which is good at cleaning up and using dxf files to waterjet 2d parts. When you get into 3d stuff there is nothing i know of that will associate geometry without you telling it what to do.

 

Having said that it doesnt take long at all to create a file in mastercam(for me). I have used it on 3 and 4 axis machining. Really it takes more time to setup the tool turret and all the offsets of our bits because they usually change all the time. For instance the camera housing i made on friday used 10 different bits. For me to program the 3 different parts of the housing(1 had to machined on two sides) took less than an hour and probably led to about 4hrs of machine time.

 

I have never seen any software either that will completely define how to machine a part, well it might but not correctly. First as shift said, you have to define your tool list and then things like direction and method of cutting. The amount of material to be removed each pass has to be defined and that could change for critical dimensions so you have a final cut. Some holes can be drilled while highly toleranced holes have to be interpolated.

 

One are to loook into, and I beleive MasterCam has it, is family of parts programming. To be a member of the family a part must have the same features and required machining, just of different dimensions. For instance if you wanted to machine a second camera housing with some of the dimensions changed, MasterCam could automatially adjust the machine code correctly and perform the machining.