Re: Best CAM software
 

It's $600 for a seat of MasterCAM or MasterCAM for Solidworks. If you use the latter you don't miss out on the associativity of HSMWorks. MasterCAM has a change recognition tool in the standalone version that will allow you to update geometry without redoing the entire CAM program, but it can be unwieldy at times.

I wanted to switch to HSMWorks but no tabs is a deal breaker. I'm not gonna waste the time to draw in tabs when I could have the part done already in MasterCAM.

Re: Best CAM software
 

Another vote for HSMWorks. Andy A and I use it drive a CNC router, two different mills, and a CNC plasma cutter.

What do you mean by 'tabs'?

Re: Best CAM software
 

I've found this technique for tabs in HSMWorks to work alright.

Re: Best CAM software
 

Most CAM packages will by default add "tabs" to a contour toolpath. Basically little bridges of material that connect the part to the stock. You contour at full depth around the exterior of the part and the tool raises maybe .025"-.060" (depending on how many tabs you have and how large the part is) over a small length at various points around the perimeter such that the part is basically done, but doesn't drop out of the stock.

Lets you cut the full depth contour and then you either hammer out the part with a deadblow and snap the tabs off, or you bandsaw them off if the part is delicate. Then you can remove the remainder of the tab with a belt sander, hit it with some scotchbrite, and if you've done a good job you can't even tell the part wasn't fully contoured with an end mill.

It's a massive timesaver when it comes to doing 2D parts on the mill.

Re: Best CAM software
 

I do not like Sketchup. But, If you can deal with it, there is scketchucam add in for it. This gives you ramps that are configurable, helical bores, drills and very important tabs and v tabs. It works very well for a extrusion based router doing al. That said our team is going to learn hms express for solid works this summer. To do tabs with this path is less than desirable. For hobby type routers plunges should be avoided. Ramps, helicals, and v tabs are allot easier on the machine and allow higher precision.

Re: Best CAM software
 

There is no plunging involved with tabs beyond the initial entry to the part. It's one continuous toolpath that ramps up and down.

Re: Best CAM software
 

We've had no significant issues sketching bridges (tabs) into HSM works, only takes a few moments for the 2D parts we do (robotics or otherwise) although we do pull to safe z-height and then re-plunge. But, generally we're working with 0.100 in Al or thinner, so the Z-moves aren't a big deal for our applications because we're only doing 1-2 passes per part.

I have also done 'membranes' instead of tabs, leaving 0.010in or so of material holding the part in all around the base, as a 'skirt' if you will. Takes no special programming, and the membrane is thinner than the chamfer put onto the part by deburring so you can't tell it was ever there!

I'm not saying one method is better or worse than the other, just what I've done that I'm satisfied with.

Re: Best CAM software
 

Inventor HSM Pro and HSMWorks Premium are both free in the Autodesk Education Community for most students.