[Jewelry making - Article 00429] - Re: [Orchid] CAD/CAM Software

[Andrew Werby]

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    The 5.0 Basic version of VisualMill actually does quite a lot for a
    program in its price range (parallel and horizontal roughing and
    finishing for 3d parts; user-definable machining regions; pocketing,
    profiling, facing, V-carving and engraving, hole drilling, boring and
    tapping; animated toolpath simulation, etc), but if that's too
    expensive for you, Mecsoft gives away an even more basic version
    (Freemill) - no charge to download it from www.cncportal.com. It will
    import 3d STL files and output G-code programs a 3-axis CNC machine
    can run. It lacks many of the 5.0 Basic version's features, but it's
    pretty easy to use and is just as good as some other programs which
    cost hundreds of dollars. 

    If you want to use a 4th axis, good for carving rings and things in
    the round, you can purchase the VisualMill 4th axis module separately
    for an additional $700. Or you can get DeskProto, another program
    that imports 3d models and outputs G-code to control a CNC milling
    machine. You can download a fully functional copy of the program from
    www.deskproto.com and run it for 30 days, trying the G-code it
    writes, before deciding if you want to buy it. If you do, it's $1300,
    or $250 for the "light" version that lacks the 4th axis support, the
    "2-side wizard"  and a few other features of the main product.  While
    DeskProto at this point only recognizes mesh surfaces and won't deal
    with  linear input, this will change in the upcoming 4.0 version.
    (People who buy it now will get a free upgrade to 4.0 when it's
    released.) 

>         I'm very happy with Rhino3D for modeling. I find it intuitive
>     and fast. 

    You're not alone there. Rhino 3d is fast because it uses networks of
    mathematically defined splines to construct surfaces, instead of
    stacking thousands of polygons (usually triangles) edge to edge, as
    do most other 3d modeling programs. This makes it possible to
    manipulate complex compound-curved surfaces without the tremendous
    memory load that dealing with all those polygons entails, and which
    bogs down even very powerful computers. At the same time, Rhino's
    surfaces are more accurate, retaining smooth curves even if you zoom
    in very close instead of resolving into flat facets. Once you've made
    your model, you can export it in one of the polygon formats (like STL
    or DXF 3d faces) that most CAM programs like VisualMill or DeskProto
    accept. It's intuitive because it was developed in an open forum a
    lot like this one, where numerous users with very diverse intentions
    and backgrounds were encouraged to give feedback to the developers,
    who actually listened to what they had to say, and changed things
    accordingly until they had something that worked straight-forwardly
    to a majority of the people trying it. 

    It retails for $895 from www.rhino3d.com, but there are places that
    sell it for under $600. Or you can get it bundled with Visual Mill
    for $500. 

    DMGreer, LLC www.luxefon.com 

    "Places" , right - but let's not name any names here.... 

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com
3d Hardware and Software



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