CAM Software for lathes

[El$syd]

Now then all,

So after getting the machine all set up and working properly! im after CAM software with a decent post processor for either EMC or Mach3.

My lathe is the Boxford TCL 125

Any help is much appreciated.

Have a look at the Easymill, there is a turning package with that - the hobbyist version is £375. The commercial package is the same functionality but costs more - see RDLVLtd.weebly.com for more info and prices.

[M250cnc]

Have a look at the Easymill, there is a turning package with that - the hobbyist version is £375. The commercial package is the same functionality but costs more - see RDLVLtd.weebly.com for more info and prices.

It is not 3D capable nor will 4 & 5 axis be available in the future according to their own website

Phil

[El$syd]

Actually it does 4 and 5 axis right now using 2.5D.
3D is to be released later on.
The majority of machinists work using no more than 2.5D systems.
Most hobbyists want 3D - but very few actually need 3D, 2.5D is probably sufficient for the majority of the work.
When I was looking for A CAM package I wanted a 3D capable system because that is what most people talked about - but most of the stuff I do uses no more than 2.5D, and a lot is only 2D.
I don't do Jewellery design which needs 3D, turbine blades for jet engines (yet! lol) which also needs 3D, and sculptures as I cannot sculpt - and as I don't have a 3D scanner (yet) I can't reproduce a sculpture.
There are a number of professional machinists who still program their CNC machines by writing g-code at the console! And many hobbyists too! A CAM package such as Easymill provides machinists with greater efficiency and ease of use. It takes me a couple of minutes to launch Easymill, modify my design and generate new g-code. And, if I don't use it for a while, I don't have to go through another tuition class to relearn it.

[John S]

Is this that program where you pay per use ?

[El$syd]

Is this that program where you pay per use ?

For hobbyists the version of the software is called Hobbycam - there are 150 post processing tokens per year - to my knowledge no one has yet run out!
The commercial version has unlimited use, unlimited number of machines and unlimited tools used for machining cycles.

[John S]

For hobbyists the version of the software is called Hobbycam - there are 150 post processing tokens per year - to my knowledge no one has yet run out!

So you get issued with 150 tokens at the start of a year ? Does every edit use a token up ?

[El$syd]

So you get issued with 150 tokens at the start of a year ? Does every edit use a token up ?

Only to post process, you can edit as much as you want.
To reassure you - hobbyists have not run out of tokens - commercial organisations would very quickly, that is why there is a commercial and a hobby version. They are the same product, so the hobbyist gets a professional product at an affordable price. The commercial organisation gets a faster turn around, as they do not have to connect to the internet etc.

I hope to post some more of my designs before too long - Easymill is quick to use, but I don't always have the time to use it and get to the workshop to cut my parts!