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24th January 2010, 04:05 AM #1
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Best CAD/CAM for French Provencal
In your opinion, what would be the optimal CAD/CAM software to draw and produce furniture like a French provencal china cabinet with complex segmented curling arches on the door rails, skirt and curved crown moding? Excluding the carved ornament part – this we assume will need something like ArtCam or substitute. We are buying a CNC router (no software incl) and want to get started on the CAD learning curve.
Our wish list:
- Parametric so we can resize a cabinet easily
- Easily draw the complex curves like on these doors
- Easily create a library of parts that can be re-used on new designs (e.g. a particular shaped door, or particular carved bottom skirt)
- Ability to import 3d scanned .stl files and use quickly (we just bought a NextEngine scanner to scan some of our hand-carvings)
- Not outrageously expensive
We recognize that it might take 2-3 different software packages to do the job. Our current options are as follows:
- AlphaCam to do everything
- MasterCam to do evertything
- Solidworks to do the CAD, VisualMill to do the CAM, Rhino3D to do the more complex free-form things like the scrolled feet.
What are your thoughts on these options – are there other software packages you might consider?
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24th January 2010 04:05 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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27th January 2010, 01:29 PM #2
Scott,
This forums members typically use their machines for home use. My suggestion is that you contact the manufacturer of your machine and have them help you. By this, they could recommend visits to existing customers who do similar work and get you to ask them questions on what advantages/disadvantages each software piece they run has.
Solidworks is very good from the feedback I have received. The user does make 3D parts for motor bikes, etc. This would probably do what you want but once again try finding a user in a similar field who could provide accurate feedback on you application/software combo
An image of what your trying to achieve also goes a long way.
/M
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