[Genes1s]

Anyone uses MasterCAM V9 on their Benchtop Miling machine with C10 BOB?
Is the setup different than MACH3?

Thanks

[BTP]

MasterCAM is a CAM software, used for generating G-code. Mach3 is a CNC controller that handles the physical machine functions. That's like comparing Window8 to Microsoft Office.

[Genes1s]

OK that make sense. If you have Mach3, do you then need CAM software to generate Gcode or would Mach3 give you the tool path(Gcode) from Solidworks.

[ZipSnipe]

Mach 3 is a controller software it take g code from cam software such as Mastercam. Mastercam takes a dxf ,eps ,etc files and turns it to g code. Solidworks makes dxf files.

So you basically need three different software apps to go from point a to b in cnc. There are some cad/cam that are two in one.

[mkd]

OK that make sense. If you have Mach3, do you then need CAM software to generate Gcode or would Mach3 give you the tool path(Gcode) from Solidworks.

Mastercam has good CAD entity creation ability and great compatibility to read a variety of file formats, thus is all you need to get started in the cnc WORLD. Solidworks is not crucial to where you are going with your questions.

however MasterCAM has a CAM software that actually runs in Soliworks

[BTP]

The MasterCAM for Solidworks is very limited compared to the full stand alone version. Just to be clear, CAM software doesn't just turn geometry into Gcode with a click of a button. It requires a lot of parameter settings, feeds and speeds, tool path strategies, etc..

Sometimes it can be unclear to the newbie how much is actually involved with getting Gcode from CAM software. And no you don't need CAM software, if you learn to program manually, you will get a better idea of how things are suppose to operate. This doesn't happen over night though. It takes a lot years of experience to become efficient.

[mkd]

The MasterCAM for Solidworks is very limited compared to the full stand alone version. Just to be clear, CAM software doesn't just turn geometry into Gcode with a click of a button. It requires a lot of parameter settings, feeds and speeds, tool path strategies, etc..

Sometimes it can be unclear to the newbie how much is actually involved with getting Gcode from CAM software. And no you don't need CAM software, if you learn to program manually, you will get a better idea of how things are suppose to operate. This doesn't happen over night though. It takes a lot years of experience to become efficient.

Mr. BTP is correct and helpful in this thread.
as a small technicality, his statement on limitations of Mastercam for Solidworkd used to be true. recent MC software releases are mostly complete/ fully capable (except lathe)

[Riceburner98]

Isn't MasterCam $10k or so? Don't know many people that would spend $10k to run a $2k bench top mill.. Or are we talking bootleg MasterCam copies? We use SolidCam at work for 2.5D stuff (because they pay for it), not too bad but still cost more than the modified Taig mill it's making G-code for.