BobCAD-CAM has been a computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing software provider for over 30 years. This CAD-CAM technology is used by machine shops around the world for design and CNC machine programming. BobCAD-CAM has released their core upgrade which is the new version 29 software.

Version 29 is now their latest core product that offers a variety of modules for CNC Milling, Lathe, Routing, Laser, Plasma, Waterjet and CNC Burning cutting tools. The version 29 product adds a series of important features for CNC programmers to use and benefit from.

bobcad-cam-version-29-cnc-lathe-simulation1The release of BobCAD-CAM V29 brings with it, the most powerful, versatile Lathe module in the history of the BobCAD-CAM software family of products. The Development team at BobCAD-CAM has rebuilt the Lathe portion of the software to deliver unparalleled control and power to our customers. “We build our software based on customer requests, and this release is no different,” says Greg Myers, who manages the development of their CAD-CAM software. He continues, “BobCAD-CAM V29 brings functions that provide speed, intelligence, and much needed organization to the easy to use flow that our customers know and love”.

The simulation is an incredibly powerful tool allowing you to check everything from cut time to part deviation. In some cases, you may just need to check simple tool movement on one single operation. It is in cases like this that setting other operations to not be shown in simulation, then launching the simulation itself, checking one thing, then exiting the simulation seems to take forever. BobCAD-CAM now offers a way to track tool movements for a single operation without the need to launch the simulation. By right-clicking on an operation and selecting the Backplot options, users can now see the tool movement for a single operation directly in the CAD Window.

Other features include
– Spun Profile
– Chain Filleting
– Backplotting
– Ability to Update All Geometry
– Tapered Threads
– Thread Side Roughing
– New Thread Mill Tool Types
– Spiral Pocketing for Circles
– Helical Arc Output for Spiral Entries
– New Gouge Checking

Integrated CAD & CAM is the optimum design and manufacturing solution for the global markets under the title of “Manufacturing”. Because of this, CNC Cookbook surveys known CAD-CAM users in the market place to gain a better understanding of what they use in cad-cam technologies in order to get a better understanding of what is working vs. what is just available. When the results came back BobCAD-CAM was at the top for “Modular CAD-CAM”.

modular cad-cam softwareModular CAD-CAM for Machine Shops
It’s safe to say that the majority of “machine shops” have and use a CNC mill, lathe, router, waterjet, laser or plasma cutting machine with a CNC controller will require some sort of a CAM product to run it. Whether it’s a newer CNC with high speed machining capabilities or an older CNC that has been retrofitted, a CAM product will be necessary in order to complete the automation process for faster and easier part making. Because manufacturing as a whole has changed and diversified, manufacturing shops need more and more tools to open up production and be able to accommodate the needs of more and more clients. While CAD is the starting place in innovation and turning an idea into a real world concept, CAM applies to exactly “How” or the methods that are used to machine it. That’s the cutting strategies for roughing, semi-finishing and finishing, cutting conditions, toolpath parameters and more.

ranked-1-modular-cad-cam-softwareAs an integrated CAD-CAM product, BobCAD-CAM provides both design or drawing technology for wireframe, surface or solid modeling and provides the entire suite of CAM machining features that make the software popular from the hobbyist to major manufacturers for automotive, aerospace, defense and the rest.

Machine shops today can’t afford to turn away work because they lack the technology to do the work. Therefore they are seeking a CAD-CAM product that can be added to as they need capabilities. This brings us to “Modular” CAD-CAM and what that is all about. Modular CAD-CAM refers to various levels of CNC Machine technology that is integrated with CAD design.
BobCAD-CAM software is considered modular due to the core structure of the software. The first level of the software can be added as a basic 2D or 2.5 Axis Milling product. The milling modules can also work with CNC Routers, waterjet, plasma, laser and burning machines because of the customizable post processing features of the software. Posting features can be adjusted which will allow for G-Code accepting CNC machines.

Modular also extends to the ability to add higher levels of a core product such as the milling product. A machine shop may only want or need 3 axis today, however they may need rotary or 4th axis next week. The BobCAD-CAM modular milling software can have 4th axis capabilities added to it at any time.

The primary advantage to this is that a machine shop doesn’t have to pay for more than they actually need at any given time. Maybe the shop will purchase a Wire EDM at some point. The BobCAD-CAM Wire EDM module can be added at a later date when it is needed for CNC programming the wire machine. Modular CAD-CAM is the next level in efficiency for CNC manufacturing and goes a long way to keeping costs down while providing machine programmers with the edge they need to remain productive.

CAD-CAM software is used by thousands of manufacturers throughout the world to automate and streamline CNC Machining. For one Florida business it played a major roll in leveraging success and business expansion. SE Model Products in Miami, Florida decided to share their story: “We started SE Model Products 3 years ago with the purpose of importing and selling gasoline engines for large scale radio controlled model airplanes, a passion we had since we were kids. We researched companies overseas that would manufacture with our trade brand “SE-Engines” and we found a Chinese manufacturer willing to brand their engines with our name, and with certain specifications we needed for our market and quality standards.”

“After a period of not being extremely happy with the response of the public, just because the product is Chinese, we decided it was time to find a way to manufacture them here in the US, so we started researching equipment, methods, suppliers and so on, and decided we needed a milling machine to make most of the components. We did not have any machining experience, but we went ahead and purchased a HAAS Vertical.

Two or three months after, we received the machine. A huge piece of equipment installed in our facilities, and we barely knew anything about it from what the installer and trainer from Haas taught us… mainly how to switch it on and off!”

“We found someone willing to teach us the basics, and at that point we realized we had to be way more proficient than an apprentice to manufacture high precision engines even if they are only toys, we want to offer the best quality and performance, nothing less. We had to find a way through which we could acquire experience and knowledge, and at the same time generate some form of income to support our operation until we were ready to manufacture for ourselves, so we signed up with MFG.com, a firm that connects suppliers with buyers, and started quoting on various jobs with the help of our instructor, and started getting some awarded. We created the DBA “SE Machine Works” for the purpose. Our instructor came, programmed the CAM for the orders we were getting, gave us a list of tooling needed, and set up the works for production. All this after hours, since he has a day job. We spend interminable hours at night setting up, testing, etc., and we really weren’t participating in the process more than as observers. More so, our profits, if any, went to pay for the instructor/programmer’s time, and our goal of becoming proficient seemed to be getting further and further away, even though we were learning a lot of strategies for machining, tool usage, machine capabilities and limitations, materials, and mainly all there is to know about basic machining processes. But just acquiring knowledge on its own tends to be discouraging, when so much time is involved and no reward is reached.”

“At a point, a year ago, we decided to buy and learn BobCAD-CAM, so we purchased the software and the training videos. We sat down and watched the videos in their entirety and researched what we couldn’t grasp or understand to be sure we had it right. Whenever we needed to ask BobCAD anything, they were right there to answer and help and that really helped. One week later, we were making parts! We started recreating parts our programmer had done before, to compare results, and then we jumped into making parts for our customers –no matter how complicated, we found ways with BobCAD. Since, we haven’t looked back. We are confident we can make any part we quote on, and we know the results we are going to get with BobCAD are going to be excellent. BobCAD-CAM cnc software gives us starting points to figure feeds and speeds for our tools and materials, offers us many strategies for machining, and its support is second to none. From 20 hour setups per job with our programmer, we went to setups of less than 2 hours for very complex parts and much shorter for simple ones and we do them ourselves! We are generating cash flow through work for other companies, which range from automotive to medical, through armories, consumer and educational manufacturers, and we are tackling any job our equipment can make. In the meantime, we are perfecting the designs for our engines, machining our prototypes and testing, and once we have the quality we want, we will come out with engines made completely in the US, with great performance and affordability.”

BobCAD-CAM is a software that is extremely easy to learn and use, really intuitive and with a support department that leaves absolutely nothing to wish for. Always preoccupied with improving their customers’ experience, publishing videos and blogs on different options and strategies and making sure their customers have the best alternatives available.

“We look forward to upgrading to the simultaneous 4th axis version of the software and maintaining our relationship with BobCAD-CAM for as long as we machine!”

Courtesy: BobCAD-CAM Inc