They have only been trying to integrate solid part machining /FBM into
> solid modelers for about 10years now, get with the "program"
> maybe, just maybe, they'll get it?
Who the f*ck is "they"? No CAM company wants to spend money on CAD development any longer. Most have very tired, outdated, wireframe CAD with some crappy solid modeling tossed on top.... SmartCAM, Mastercam, etc.
We'll see about that. Pro/E - Pro/Man? How many "little
> guys" using that s*it? Whata joke!
All SolidWorks is an easier to use Pro/E that's makes full use of what Windows has to offer with more modern marketing with what probably is the worlds best VAR network.
I'm not a software writer, but I can tell you when you take 2
> independant CAD/CAM programs & try to combine them, IT DON'T WORK, for > very long.
Wrong. Its now working very well and that's why so many CAM companies are moving to offer CAM inside of SolidWorks. While I don't like SolidWorks using a program like Solid Edge with ST when you have to seriously modify your customers model now makes the situation tolerable. Even better, is the FACT that SolidCAM doesn't just run inside of SolidWorks. If Autodesk ever gets their s*it together with Inventor-Fusion it might become a very attractive option and would not require the use of Solid Edge with ST. That's a big if because Autodesk is an asshole company.
SolidWorks gives CAM developers some great tools to work with. Imagine being able to have high quality chaining you can actually see rather than what Mastercam has now... chains with thin wireframe arrows that often disappear and are often very hard to see.
It seems that trying to limp along & keep kicking a sleeping dog
> (MCx'ers)- turning existing cam software in to un-usable buggy
> behemoths- is the way things progress?
Nope. CNC Software has no choice now other than to try and make Mastercam CAD much, much better. Most other companies have thrown in the towel and will ride the integrated into SolidWorks approach like many other CAM vendors are doing. CAM is now going to get much better at a much faster pace than in the recent past.
Speaking of the past... for the wrong answers from someone who lives in the very distant past and talks out his ass about machining and most CADCAM subjects be sure to read your pal Cliffy Huprich's response. As usual it will be wrong, filled with lies and so uninformed that it will be laughable.