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Unread 05-05-2016, 10:15 AM
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Aboudy Dairi Aboudy Dairi is offline
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Re: Best CAM software

I second HSMWorks if you're integrating into solidworks. This year the team used creo for CAD, and whenever we needed to route a part I imported it into fusion 360. No need to convert file types either, it works with a plethora of file types. Autodesk's CAM package is excellent and easy to learn. I would have a posted file within minutes and be off to the machine. The CAM can be as simple as inputing tool data, clicking contours, and setting heights. The toolpaths it generates can be focused around keeping a constant width of cut on a tool, or it can be just conventional slotting. Autodesk's support is amazing as well, and they'll gladly edit any post to your liking. Fusion's CAM is just a standalone extension of HSMWorks with a revamped UI. After getting a student license for Solid Works and a free copy of HSMWorks, I've been warming up to the integrated experience.

As for integrating CAM into the build process, whenever a part needed to be made the CAD file was handed off to someone who could use the software. They'd create the toolpaths then make the part, while whoever is designing continues working.
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