I used a large number of packages to produce code: ANVIL, APT, PCAPT, UNIAPT, ProManufacturing, CALMA, AccuCarve, TX-23, AIRCL and a few I can't remember anymore. Each would produce code as well as the developers were able to envision.
However, I always seemed to come across the unexpected situation that no developer had foreseen. Then I was on my own. Often, the code generated was corrupt and damaged the part. SmartCam has a few instances of this, just like any other. Where SmartCam excels, is in the ability to graphically edit the resulting tool paths. The first time I saw this, after 27 years of programming, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Perfect code, and lots of it, for the most unusual designs. I could even create tool paths, trim them with irregular profiles, subtract from, add to, or modify them. I've looked at an awful lot of demos, installed a lot of trial versions, but haven't seen a one that was perfect. Not one. Not SurfCam, not MasterCam, not Esprit, not EdgeCam. And when the output wasn't perfect, you were stuck with it. Only SmartCam, even with it's own imperfections, allowed you to make the code perfect. Find me another package that will allow me to perfect the tool path and I'll take a good long look at it. Meanwhile, I ain't giving up perfection for "close". Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. I like the solution that Michael proposed, to use a product like Rhino to accept all the stranger formats that come along, and output them to SmartCam. That should keep the old SmartCam going for a long time. Maybe at least until something better comes along. That means until another package comes along that can produce perfect code. Gene Bowen SMARTCO Michael wrote: > "Zsiros, Pete" wrote: > > > You find that SmartCam, like it was five years ago, is still unparalelled. > > And yes, let's keep the discussion going. > > Pete Zsiros > > > > For making patterns, coreboxes, pattern plates and everything else I make, yes > I do say that Smartcam outputs code in a controlled manner better than anything > else. Nothing else has ever compared in the editing of toolpath. > It seems like there are thousands of new features available today, I have yet > to see where I need new features to make my programs. I have what I need to > generate error free programs in a minimum amount of time. I have seen most every > product available, I would still rather have Smartcam. > Michael ====================================================================== To find out more about this mailing list including how to unsubscribe, send the message "info mfg-smartcam" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================================================
