CAM Software for lathes

[M250cnc]

The commercial version of Easymill is £2500 and competes with the 'heavyweights' Delcam etc. but at a fraction of their prices.

I had bought a £200 CAM software package for my mill, it was OK but it is very basic. I quickly outgrew it, Easymill will see me through for quite a long time.

If a hobby mill costs £3-7K (KX1/3 at £3-4K, Syil at £3-4K+, Tormach at £5-7K, home made £2K+) then £375 price for a CAM package would not be an unreasonable cost. After all one buys the best tools to achieve the best results - cutters etc. and one spends as much on required tools as one has spent on buying the machine e.g. DTIs, verniers, vice(s) (Kurt... v.expensive!), parallels, angles,

Mostly I find you get what you pay for ... (mostly! :-)

But EasyMilll cannot compete as it doesn't have the capability to do 4 & 5 axis as can be seen on the picture from their own website It's only 2.5D.

Phil

[El$syd]

But EasyMilll cannot compete as it doesn't have the capability to do 4 & 5 axis as can be seen on the picture from their own website It's only 2.5D.

Phil

Aahh.... It seems there is another Easymill - the one I was referring to was www.easymill.com (French) or www.easymill.co.uk (English).
That one does do 4 and 5 axis in 2.5D.

[M250cnc]

Aahh.... It seems there is another Easymill - the one I was referring to was www.easymill.com (French) or www.easymill.co.uk (English).
That one does do 4 and 5 axis in 2.5D.

http://www.easymill.com
http://www.easymill.co.uk

Yes those were the sites i was referring to, maybe you need some lessons on the differences between 2.5D and 3D/5 axis machining.

Phil

Phil

[El$syd]

http://www.easymill.com
http://www.easymill.co.uk

Yes those were the sites i was referring to, maybe you need some lessons on the differences between 2.5D and 3D/5 axis machining.

Phil

Phil

So... elucidate!

I have seen a lot of 'definitions' on the web - what is your definition?

[Jonathan]

So... elucidate!

I have seen a lot of 'definitions' on the web - what is your definition?

• A 4 or 5 axis machine is one that moves with 4 or 5 distinct axis, with each controlled independently to each other.
• 3+2 axis - 5 axis machine where two axis are used for positioning, not moved at the same time as the main 3.
• 3 axis - obvious
• 2.5 axis - 3 axis but with Z only 'up' or 'down', possibly some in between but generally making 'flat stuff'.

I'm not sure how you could confuse that software with 4 or 5 axis. The terms are well defined.

[El$syd]

• A 4 or 5 axis machine is one that moves with 4 or 5 distinct axis, with each controlled independently to each other.
• 3+2 axis - 5 axis machine where two axis are used for positioning, not moved at the same time as the main 3.
• 3 axis - obvious
• 2.5 axis - 3 axis but with Z only 'up' or 'down', possibly some in between but generally making 'flat stuff'.

I'm not sure how you could confuse that software with 4 or 5 axis. The terms are well defined.

You say the terms are well defined - yet when I see responses on various forum sites and software manufacturers' sites I find different definitions - specifically between 3 axis and 3D - which you call obvious. It does appears to be - x,y,z. If you limit your definition to axes, as you have, then your definition is very clear - however where is the definition for 2.5D and 3D? This is what is confusing!

e.g. - is a 3 axis machine capable of 3D? i.e. can you cut a 'true' 3D object with only 3 axes?

My machine has 3 independent axes - but I can only cut in what most people call 2.5D, I would need an A axis to rotate the part and cut all around it.

[M250cnc]

e.g. - is a 3 axis machine capable of 3D? i.e. can you cut a 'true' 3D object with only 3 axes?

My machine has 3 independent axes - but I can only cut in what most people call 2.5D, I would need an A axis to rotate the part and cut all around it.

No you need 3D software which easymill is not, if you had an A axis as well you would have 4 axis but you need the software to do 4 axis machining.

Phil

[M250cnc]

So... elucidate!

I have seen a lot of 'definitions' on the web - what is your definition?

Not my definition but industry definition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2.5D_%28machining%29

With Easymill as far as I am aware the axis is rotated but doesn't cut while rotating.
When the part has been rotationally positioned, the cutting starts in 2.5D.

Isn't 5 axis work holding and machine stability beyond hobbyists' budgets? So why is 5 axis an issue for hobbyist software?

I need many clamps just to hold the small pieces I do in x,y,z - so with 5 axes I am not sure how the work pieces would be securely held - unless I get a very expensive machining centre.

So it is 2.5D

Phil

[M250cnc]

Have a look and you will see why the software is expensive

Phil

[El$syd]

Have a look and you will see why the software is expensive

Phil

That was impressive - thanks for finding it and posting.
I had seen a number of other videos but this one is excellent!