CAM Software - Free?

[Passion]

Excuse my ignorance, what are CAM software and what does it do. This is not the first time I`ve seen this word CAM, which makes me wonder alot whenever I see it.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Passion

Excuse my ignorance, what are CAM software and what does it do. This is not the first time I`ve seen this word CAM, which makes me wonder alot whenever I see it.

CAM is Computer aided Manufacturing and it is the first step between Designing something in CAD and taking the part off the CNC machine. It allows you to tell your machine how a part is fixtures, what size/type of cutting tool you are using, the constraints of the machine and it will generate a tool path to cut the part. For the most part it is not a hard of a process to do once you have the software setup for your machine.

[DonRotolo]

CAD = Computer-Aided Design
CAM = Computer-Aided Manufacturing (or Machining)
CNC = Computer Numerical Control (Meaning something controlled by a computer).

You design it in CAD and make it using CAM to control a CNC machine (mill, lathe, whatever). Often you use CAM to create a file of "G-Code", which is then interpreted by the CNC to actually produce the part. G-Code is a standard, there are others. Google it.

[Adam.garcia]

Hello,

I am currently head of machining and work a lot on the CNC. I use gibbsCAM for all of my cnc purposes (Milling and Lathe) and it works great. Our team has gotten ten seats to the latest version of gibbsCAM. All you have to do is call them up and they are more than happy to assist you in the instillation as well as beginning usage. Just mention that you are a FIRST robotics team.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks,
Adam
Team 4 Element

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Adam.garcia

Hello,

I am currently head of machining and work a lot on the CNC. I use gibbsCAM for all of my cnc purposes (Milling and Lathe) and it works great. Our team has gotten ten seats to the latest version of gibbsCAM. All you have to do is call them up and they are more than happy to assist you in the instillation as well as beginning usage. Just mention that you are a FIRST robotics team.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks,
Adam
Team 4 Element

Do they give out free seats?

-RC

[skotmorris]

Hi, the current Schools Edition of Pro/ENGINEER includes our Expert Machinist CAM solution! If you have downloaded the latest version, M092, you already have a great CAM solution to get started with.