Cliff, thanks for your comments Solidcam works within Solidworks and that is the cad/cam package I was referencing.
I need solids primarily to alleviate recreating these in other packages that we use to make instructional video CDs. Our current method of Acad to 3D Studiomax is a real pain. If I can use the same package to create my 3D models in a solid I have a much quicker creation of the elements needed to generate the files for video editing.
We will need 3 axis for future products in the works now.
You referenced > >Primary interest is the creation of tool paths for my
Can you elaborate on that comment? I am not a machinist but am having to learn about the industry in a hurry. I have a part-time machinist that runs the VMC but we want to be able to utilize the computer to maximize everyone's efforts. If the software (cad/cam) can create the toolpaths for the VMC and create the 3d model it saves everyone time. We want the software to be as seamless as possible, ie.. as little importing / exporting / converting etc to go from design to cutting object on VMC.
As I hate Acad because of the way it works (remember not machinist here), I do like the interface of Solidworks/Cam and Surfcam. What I want from the machinist community is your appraisal of these packages (a) Surfcam (b) Solidworks / SolidCam. There are a lot of medium price users out there who have opinions I'm sure.
Thanks for your comments!
Pete