Thoughts on Tormach pcnc-440?

[GunsOfNavarone]

$7200 an TEN HOURS later...Tormach is home.

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

So after hours of watching the prior owner rn some amzing things, I now realize that path pilot isn't a full blown CAM software, What are you using RJ? I'm really curious about MESHCam, The easiest intro software would be great, I have a ok grasp on Fusion360, but not in a real life environment. I need to find something for the manufacturing side.

 

[RJSakowski]

Path Pilot isn't CAM. It has a bunch of conversational routines that can be strung together to make a fairly complex routine but a CAM program can input a 3D model and with manipulation from you and generate usable G code for your Tormach to run. PathPilot will convert the G code into instructions that the 440 can run. It isn't capable of generating G code from a complex curve like a spline.

I bought SprutCAM with my machine and still use it. I have a seat of SolidWorks for my CAD program to create the 3D models. I also have Fusion 360 on my computer but I really haven't used it.

 

[Boswell]

There are a number of capable CAM packages out there. I personally use BobCad and many people have been very happy with Fusion360 (especially the price)

Also a number of threads on CAM package selection.

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

@Boswell I was hoping to find such a thread on CAM selection, coming up pretty much blank. I am very intrigued by MeshCam but nothing comes up on it.

 

[matthewsx]

Running LinuxCNC

John

 

[burtonbr]

For me I believe that for the price, Fusion360 is the most capable Cam available, it is not hard to learn, no harder than any other cam software, and can be Free as a hobbyist and Under startup Licenses, but even a full commercial version is affordable given it's capabilities. there are 1000's of tutorials and examples on the web for beginners

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

Thanks @burtonbr i have been learning F369 last 12 months or so, I’m ok with it but have just started ranking with the CAM part vs the CAD. It’s not easy whereas MeshCam looks excellent for toolpaths. I can’t find any info on it here in a search..

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

@matthewsx funny you posted that, the path pilot computer with the Tormach runs Linux which is ALL NEW to me.

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

@RJSakowski what are you running for edge finding or probing of your stock? They have a lot of options, though this machine did come with one of the analog units (Haimer?) I’d like something a bit more automated.