CNC software .... A better way?

WilleeCue

WilleeCue

The Barefoot Cuemaker
Silver Member
i have used BobCad / Cam software to G-code my inlay drawings for the last few years and dispite the lack of customer support and poor documentation / training and with the help of Jim and Brian at Unique Products, I have managed to learn to do most of what I want to do for cue inlays.

But you know how it is about the greener grass on the other side of the fence ... perhaps it is time to upgrade to something that will allow all those wild and crazy inlay ideas in my head to materialize onto a cue.

So what Cad/Cam software would you recommend as an upgrade from BobCad v20?

Willee
 
WilleeCue said:
i have used BobCad / Cam software to G-code my inlay drawings for the last few years and dispite the lack of customer support and poor documentation / training and with the help of Jim and Brian at Unique Products, I have managed to learn to do most of what I want to do for cue inlays.

But you know how it is about the greener grass on the other side of the fence ... perhaps it is time to upgrade to something that will allow all those wild and crazy inlay ideas in my head to materialize onto a cue.

So what Cad/Cam software would you recommend as an upgrade from BobCad v20?

Willee
Click to expand...

Master Cam. That's what Thomas Wayne uses and states it is by far the best. Sure ain't cheap but if you want the best you have to pay for it. I have no problems with mine but maybe I'm not that creative.

Dick
 
Bobcad is pretty crude, and has some annoying bugs, but for cues, there's not much you can do with mastercam that you can't do with bobcad. Maybe if you get to the level of someone like TW, it will allow a few tricks bobcad can't pull off, but mostly it's just going to be more efficient, faster, and (once you learn it) a lot easier to use.
 
Gibbscam

i've worked with most of the major cad programs and imo the best all around software hands down is Gibbscam but because of it's price point it may be to much of an investment for most cue makers budgets. i think for the advanced mill package is in the area of $8,000 to $10,000. i think you can add the 4th axis machining module for another 2 to 3 grand more. then comes the "maintenance" fees for updated posts and the like. it's very pricey but i've found it to be the easiest by far to draw and create machine code.
 
CNC software .... A better way?

> I've been told that Gibbs is not only expensive on it's own,but creates another expense in that only runs right on a pretty macked-out computer,like a mid-range gaming machine with at least 2GB RAM and a 256MB video card. Is this the case? Tommy D.
 
Tommy-D said:
> I've been told that Gibbs is not only expensive on it's own,but creates another expense in that only runs right on a pretty macked-out computer,like a mid-range gaming machine with at least 2GB RAM and a 256MB video card. Is this the case? Tommy D.
Click to expand...

not true. the machine that i had before was an amd k62 550/ 512 ram and it ran fine. my system got destroyed by a lightning strike and had to replace the system board. now the system is an amd athlon 2.0 ghz with a gig of ram and a cheap graphics card with 32 meg memory. a system like this you can get from dell for about $600.
 
Thats so weird, this is the second time today that I heard the name Gibbscam. I installed a 4th axis option on a customers mill today and they told me that Gibbscam was comming in next week to show them how to program. They had very little experience since they where 100% amish. I think they said that Gibbs was out of Kalamazoo, Mi. and about an hour north of where we where. All I need to do is here it again for a third time from a different source and I will be convince. Well convinced that things happen in threes anyway.

thanks for letting my rant, Jimbo.
 
Thanks everyone for all the information on the different programs available.
Good software not cheap and some of it far exceeds the cost of the equipment.

The high dollar software like MasterCam seems to be designed for bigger machines and much more complicated work.
I doubt that many of the advanced features like 3D imaging and skin contour would seldom if ever be used by a cuemaker.
Even BobCad has a lot of things I will never use.
99% of my Cad/Cam work is just simple 2-D pocket and inlay work.
I have perhaps two programs that use the 4th axis for actual cutting.
Engraving my logo in the butt cap is one of them.
if you look at my avatar photo the black lines you see were cut in using 4th axis programing.
The 4th axis on my CueMonster is used most often for rotating the cue to the next inlay position.

Do any of you use 3-D features in drawing or programing the inlays for a cue?
 
I have used bobart pro-x to do relief engravings in cues and the 4th axis to do 360deg engraving (continuous line and curves) in rings and joints on cues. It is not hard once you have done it a couple of times, the guys at bobcad were not any help with the programing though. If you would like to know how it is done, give me a call and I will walk you through it real quick. I use version 21, but it works the same in version 20.
Safe cutting,

Kenny Murrell
Panama City, Fl.
850-871-0723
 
WilleeCue said:
Do any of you use 3-D features in drawing or programing the inlays for a cue?
Click to expand...

Gibbscam 4th axis mill package uses a wrap feature that allows you to draw your design in 2d space then wrap it around the peice. it's very simple and works flawlessly for engraving , pocketing, and inlaying. for "carving" type work the best i've used is ArtCam. works similar to BobArt but a much better gui interface imo.
 
Cnc

Whats a ball park price for Gibbs cam 4axis mill. Can't find it listed on the web and don't want to bother a salesperson, since I probably can't afford it right now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top