CAD/CAM/CAE Reviews and Tutorials

This site is prepared for CAD/CAM/CAE Softwares reviews and tutorials.

CAD/CAM Guide

CAD/CAM Software:


Product
( Company)
Comment
Adem CAD/CAM (Adem Gmbh)
ArchiCAD (Graphisoft)
Architech (SoftCAD International)
AutoCAD (Autodesk) The standard in 2D .....
AutoKitchen (MicroCAD) Kitchen Design Software
Autometrix CAD Software CAD software for the sewn products industry and Sail industry
ANVIL 5000 (MCS)
CADKEY (Baystate)
Cadmatic CAD software for plant design, ship design
& engineering and maintenance work
CADMAX 3D modeling product based on Parasolid
CADDS (Parametric Technology Corporation)
CATIA (Dassault Système)
Colorado Textile software CAD for textile industry
DesignWorkshop (Artifice Inc) 3D Modeling for Windows and Mac
dSpace (3rd Angle) Feature-based design and drafting for the PC desktop
DynaCADD (Ditek)
Eureka Gold (Think3, ex CadLab) New name , New strategy !!!!!!
FastCAD, EasyCAD (Evolution Computing)
GMPcad (ENS Cachan)
HELIX (Microcadam Inc)
ICEM (Parametric Technology Corporation)
IntelliCAD (Visio Corp.) AutoCAD+ !
IronCAD (Visionary Design Systems) Merged with 3D/EYE developer of Trispectives
Mechanical Desktop (Autodesk) The next generation AutoCAD ?
Microstation (Bentley)
MiniCAD Vector Works (Diehl Graphsoft)
Primavision (Cadtex) CAD for textile industry
Pro/Desktop (Parametric Technology Corporation) Receive a Free evaluation copy
Pro/ENGINEER (Parametric Technology Corporation)
QCAD Free CAD Software for Linux (Opensource)
Robosolid (Robo Systems)
Rhino 3D (Robert McNeel & Associates ) NURBS Modeling for windows (download demo version)
ROAD/SITE Designer (Advanced Software Design) PC-based program for designing roadways
SolidEdge (Unigraphics)
Solidbuilder (eagle point software) Architectural, Engineering and Construction
Software Solutions
SolidDesigner (CoCreate) By the Mechanical software division of HP.
ME10 for 2D Drafting
solidThinking NURBS-based modeling tool ( Download demo version )
solidWorks
tubeCAD (Advanced tubular Technologies) Rapid tube layout creation
TOPsolid (ASTech)
TurboCAD (IMSI)
Unigraphics
Viacad (Viable Systems, Inc.) CAD/CAM systems for the design of Jacquard
Vdraft (SoftSource) AutoCAD drawing based CAD system
Vellum 3D (Ashlar Inc.) ACIS Based
VX Vision (Varimetrix) Good combination with NCL CAM



CAM Software:

Mold Machining : Surface Milling, roughing, rest milling, finishing, drilling, 2D profiling, pocketing and wire EDM, NC Simulation, Tool path optimization (feed/speed, air cut), NC post-processing and NC simulation (gauge checking)

Production Milling : 2 1/2 D Milling, Rotary axis in positioning, macro capability, tool path editing, NC Post-processing and NC simulation
Production Turning : 2 and 4 axis turning (synchronized or not), Mill/Turn (C and/or Y axis), sub-spindle, macro capability, tool path editing, NC Post-processing and NC simulation
Multi-Axis Milling : Continuous 5 axis milling, tool axis control, collinear axes (Z/W), tool path editing, NC Post-processing and NC simulation
Sheet metal manufacturing : Punch press (with tool indexing), flame cutter, laser cutter, waterject, part nesting, tool path optimization (by tool, by part, ..) , automatization, NC post-processing
Specialized Mfg : Wire EDM, engraving, wood router, ...


Based on my own experience, I have rated the different software products using the following notation from Recommended to Not Recommended
Product
( Company)
Comment
ABC-Cam (Virtual System)
ACU-CARV (Olsmetd Eng)
alphaCAD-II (Nissan)
AlphaCAM (Licom)
CAP AutoCAM (SEOOK Korea)
ANVIL (MCS)
ArtCAM (Spline)
AS3000 (CAMSOFT)
AusCAD-CAM (QARM Pty Ltd)
AutoCNC (SplineWare Graphics System Ltd.)
AUTO-CODE (Kramer Consulting)
Run inside AutoCAD/ Mechanical Desktop
AUTON CAM (Auton)
AutoPRO/CIMpro (INTERCIM)
BioSculptor
bmpCNC (Deltamation)
BobCADCAM
BravoNCG (Applicon )
Building Block
Cadcode (CCSI)
CADLINK (CAMATION)
CADRA (ADRA System)
CAMAND (SDRC)
CAM Expert (RibbonSoft)
CamMODUL (MicroTech)
CAMtastic (Innovative CAD)
CAMTOOL C3 (Graphic Products )
Most popular CAM S/W in Japan
CAMTools (Lemoine)
CAMWorks (Teksoft)
Works insideSoliWorks
Develops by GSSL
CAMWrite
CimBlock
CAPSMill and Turn (Cadem)
CATIA-CADAM(Dassault/IBM)
CUBE/NC (Hitachi Zosen)
CUTPlanner (Pattern Systems International)
Cimatron
CNC Code Creator
CN-DRAFT (NUOVAMACUT)
CUT4AXES (CENIT)
DeskProto (Spline)
Dolphin CAM (Dolphin System)
DUCT (Delcam)
ArtCAM specialized software for engraving
EdgeCAM (Pathrace)
EMS (Intergraph)
ESPRIT (DP Technology) Very good wire EDM package (KBM).
A new look and a new product with Esprit 98
EUCLID/Quantum (Matra)
Next Generation of EUCLID, developed with CASCADE environment
Euklid (Straessle GmbH)
EXAPT
FeaturCAM (Engineering Geometry System) Feature based manufacturing
EZ-CAM (Bridgeport Machines) Feature based manufacturing
FastNURBS NC (Baystate)
FabCAD (Striker)
FabriWin (MetalSoft)
FlexCAM/Experdite (SoftwareMagic)
GeoPath (Solution Ware)
Gcode95t (Andrew Clayton)
G-Zero (Rapid Output)
GIBBS (Gibbs)
Goelan (CN Industrie)
Very good WireEDM package
GTWorks (GrayTech Software, Inc.)
Helix Manufacturing (CAM Etcetera)
HI-MILL (Fidia)
HyperMILL-HyperCAM (Open Mind)
ICEM
I-DEAS Master Series (SDRC)
INCAD (MTS)
JETCAM
Free DXF Viewer
LASERCUT (CENIT) Applications running inside CATIA
LATHE4AXES (CENIT) Applications running inside CATIA
Lathe Quick Code (Primary SOftware)
Logicut (Logica Systems)
Manufacturing Analyst (CIMPLEX)
MASTERCAM (CNC Software)
MAX-5 (NREC)
Metalman
ModelMill (Artistic Automation)
Minitech
NCAP (Western NC)
NCWorks (MechWorks)
NC-AXIS (Aikoku Alpha Eng.)
NCL (NCCS) Very specialized in 5 axes for Aerospace industry. OEM by Dassault.
NCTOOL (Cadtech)
NC TOOLS (CATIA PPB by CENIT)
NUFORM (A. S. Thomas, Inc.)
OptiPunch (Optimation)
PART (Tecnomatix)
PartMaker (IMCS)
PC APT (NCSI)
PEPSCUT (CAMTEK)
Personal APT (Digital Mfg System)
PowerMill (Delcam) Works only on imported data. No geometry creation/manipulation tool.
POWERSTATION (Microcimm)
Prelude (Matra)
ProCAM (Teksoft)
Pro/NC (Parametric Technology Corp.)
Pronto (Action CAD CAM)
Prospector (Softech) Ex Cimlink
Shop Floor Programming
Quick'n'Easy CAM (Servo)
QuickSurf CAD/CAM
Radpunch (Radan)
RouterCIM (CIMTECH)
SHOPCAM (Shop System)
Shop-Talk (CNC Solutions)
SmartCAM (SDRC) Discontinued by SDRC at the end of 98
SMP/IS (Merry Mechanization)
SolidCAM (Cadtech)
SpectraCAM (Light Machines)
SpeedPlus (Turbotek)
Sprut CAD/CAM (Sprut Technology) Russian CAD/CAM, very small hardware requirement !
Download english demo of SprutCAM
3D Surfer (Larken)
Surfcam (Surfware)
Sigmanest
Synergy (Weber)
SwissPrecision / Engineer
TCAM
Tebis (TEBIS)
Tensor CAD/CAM (Leijsen Technical Software)
Toolchest
Toolchips
ToolMaker (NC Graphics)
TopCam/TopMold (Missler)
TurboCAM (NGK Software House)
Type3 (Vision Numeric) Best engraving package on the market !
Unigraphics (Unigraphics Solutions)
USI-2000 (Softek)
Varimetrix
Visicad/Visicam (Vero)
VisionMILL (Toolsoft Design)
VisualMill (Mecsoft)
WorkNC (Sescoi)
XCAM (Xitron)



NC POST-PROCESSING:

Mold Machining : Milling 3 axes, wire EDM 4 axes, arc fitting, nurbs fitting, high speed machining
Production Milling : Milling 3 axes + rotary axis in positioning (auto CLAMP), sub-program, tool pre-selection, cycles
Production Turning : Turning 2 and 4 axes (synchronized), Mill/Turn (C and/or Y axis), sub-spindle
Multi-axis Milling : Continuous 5 axis milling, no-orthogonal rotary axis, LINTOL (LINear TOLerance), feed calculation (1/T feed), rotary turn-around
Customization - Macro : macro language for customization, debugger, case tool for macro development (Rapid Macro Development tool)
GUI - Ease of use : Graphic User Interface, mouse driven, expert system, default configuration for standard CNC controls

Based on my own experience, I have rated the different software products using the following notation from Recommended to Not Recommended

Product
( Company)
Comment
5Th Element (Closs CAD/CAM) 5 Axis post-processor utility for SurfCAM, MasterCAM and APT
CIMCO Post-processor 5 Axis post-processors and NC simulation for Mastercam
CATIA PPB (Dassault/CENIT) Weak in Multi-axis and customization. Build for CATIA CL file.
CodeWizard (PATHTRACE) Works only with EdgeCAM
GPM (Unigraphics) Works only with UGII (and not always !).
To be replaced by the New UG/POST ?
Intellipost (Software Magic) The grand father of all PP with a New UI in IntelliPost2000. OEM by PTC under the name CVGPII
IMS Post (IMS) The PP solution of Matra but works with all CAM. The best macro development tool (testing and debugging)
Gpost (Intercim) OEM by SurfCAM under the name Spost. Provided with an APT processor.
NCPOST + (CAD/CAM Resources, Inc). Java based. The cheapest solution available on the market.
PostWorks (NCCS) Works well with CATIA and NCL CL files. Powerfull in 5 axes.
POS-GEN (SpazioSystem)
ERA Post
VegaPost Specialized in post for BCL


NC-SIMULATION:

Mold Machining : Fast milling simulation, gauge checking, zoom
Production Milling : Milling 3 axis + positioning, Tooling definition, Fixture, multiple view
Production Turning : Turning 2 and 4 axis (synchronized or not), Tooling Definition
Multi-axis Milling : Milling 5 axis, linearization, collision checking
Kinematic Machine : Simulation of machine kinematics
NC Optimization : optimization of Speed, Feeds, air cutting, database (feed,speed,material)
GUI - Ease of use : input format (SLA, IGES, CAD), code simulated (CL file, NC codes), setup, user interface

Product
( Company)
Comment
AnySIM
CANVAS (Turbotek)
CNC Editor (Solas Data)
CNC Simulator (MTS)
MachineWorks/RapidCUT (LightWork) Library used by CAD/CAM developer to do NC simulation
New module with true solid
NC Sentry 98 (Qarm)
NC-Safer (Aikoku) run inside CATIA
NC Simul (Spring)
NC Verify (SIrius) New module True solid - Very fast for mold machining
NCView (SplineWare Graphics Systems Ltd)
NCV (Cimplex)
N-See (NC Microproducts)
Powercut (CIMCO) NC Simulation for Mastercam
REPLAY (CENIT) Run inside CATIA
Soft Machines (SILMA)
VERICUT (CGTECH) New GUI in Rev 4.0 !
Virtual NC (DENEB)

NC MACHINES:


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