CamBam Alternative

[Bob La Londe]

I have paid for my CamBam license twice.  Once because I found value in the software, and once to show support for the developer, but I just can't wait any longer for all the bug fixes. 

I am really looking for something that is "like" CamBam, but doesn't have all the flakey tool paths and weird resolution issues with larger stepovers that I have to work around or pre-engineer to avoid in 3D.  Even when I catch all the errors and work around them it just kills my productivity.  When, like to day, I discover such a problem in a ten cavity mold that took 8hrs to machine just one half it destroys me.  Yes, I premodel/simulate using CAMOTICS.  Yes, I have the resolution cranked up in CAMOTICS, but sometimes you just don't see a BAD detail until you have cut it.  Any suggestions? 

I don't like BobCAD & Autodesk (Fusion360) due to their business practices.  Aggressive high pressure sales from BobCAD, and dishonest drug dealer subscription model from AutoDesk.  I'd like a CAM program I can just buy one time and cry one time that just works.

I never got past the aggressive in your face and down your throat pounding from the BobCAD sales staff to even try their demos.  I actually had to send BobCAD a cease and desist letter to get them to stop harassing me. 

I also do not really like the workflow in Fusion.  I have used Fusion in the past before they started killing features for low/affordable license cost versions. In Fusion's defense the operations are accurate, and it produces extremely efficient code.  I also don't want to be afraid that the month I have a lot of problems and spend every dime fixing them I won't be able to work because my subscription isn't paid. 

I really like the workflow in CamBam.  I love the nesting and 2D and 2.5D features.  I like the way the tools and love the styles work.  The post processors are easy to modify for each machine or machine group with a little initial guidance from this group of users, and the ability to have machine specific and even material specific libraries for tools and styles is awesome.  I just can't stand to throw more metal on the scrap pile.  I'd love CamBam if all the bugs and issues in resolution were fixed. 

Some of you may not be aware, but in 3D, resolution is affected by both resolution and stepover settings and it causes REAL problems. 

[Bob La Londe]

I've got a number of years invested in learning CamBam, and I really hate to waste them.  I know something new will take a long time to get back up to speed, but I feel like I have waited as long as I can and I don't really have any choice anymore. 

[dh42]

Hello

Have a look in your MP

++
David

[EddyCurrent]

Bob,

Have a look at Vectric.

I've just seen that it can do "rest machining" and plugins

There seems to be 3 useful options, VCarve, VCarve Pro, Aspire.

[pixelmaker]

Hello

Have a look in your MP

++
David

It's not that I want to replace the CamBam program. I pay every month for the webspace for the German CamBam website, maintain the software and give help in the German forum for other users. I also translate everything necessary into German, including the language file. I have been doing this for more than 10 years.
Next month I have to buy a completely new hardware for the server because it is 8 years old and because CentOS is EOL.
Migrating the complete German CamBam website, including forum and wiki will take weeks of work and I am seriously considering whether to do it.


So if you know anything about the future of CamBam that could help me make a decision it would be nice if you could send me a PM as well. As a pacifist, I can't do anything with an MP.

But I will certainly continue to work with CamBam as software.

I still hope that CamBam will be developed further, either by Andy himself or he should find someone else to do it.

ralf

[dh42]

Hello

So if you know anything about the future of CamBam that could help me make a decision it would be nice if you could send me a PM as well.

No, sorry, no news about CamBam future nor Andy feedback for anything ... 

++
David

[GeoffreyGRoy]

As a follow up on the future of CamBam, and in particular with reference to 3D (2.5D?) carving operations, has anyone looked at PixelCNC (http://www.deftware.org)?

At the moment I have not spent enough time with it (the Free Version) to draw any conclusions, but I would be very interested in learning about any thoughts/experiences that any one has had.

thanks
Geoff

[EddyCurrent]

Geoff,

Good find, thanks for posting.

They have three videos on YouTube, I watched all of them.

I would say it's not an alternative for CamBam but for 3D operations using vectors, images and text it's an excellent tool and I would contemplate a purchase for that aspect.

It has tools that I have tried to create as plugins for CamBam, e.g. sweep one rail, but my efforts are nowhere near as polished and powerfull as theirs.

[pixelmaker]

has anyone looked at PixelCNC (http://www.deftware.org)?
thanks
Geoff

Unfortunately, the program does not start after installation.
WIN 7 64bit on Parallels Desktop / Mac Pro

[EddyCurrent]

Ralph,

Two posts on their forum ask about this and the answer is, it does not work on that platform and it is not at the top of their priority list.

[Dragonfly]

Bare bones CamBam as initially installed is a promising product with a lot of potential in it. But it is the plugins which reveal the potential and add a lot of value and usefulness. And plugins (a kind of feedback from  users) also show the path to enhancement.
I cannot understand how a person who dedicated a lot of effort to make and bring to working condition such a complex product would suddenly lose interest completely.
IMHO Andy could provide the source code to a small number of prominent users who wrote a lot of useful plugins (provided they wished) and form a kind of development team. Keeping his initial author rights.

[ThisAmplifierIsLoud]

Hi there,

for me personally CAMBAM and  my workflow is perfect.
I spent a lot of time to automize my workflow to 99%.
But I´m using 2.5D only. The known bugs I can see are not nice, but acceptable to me.

For me there is another question in this bermuda area :

For Andy seems "disappeared" :

What about the license server ?
What will happen, if it´s turned off or gets damaged ?
Can I run CAMBAM anyway ?
Can I Install CAMBAM if need a new computer ?

[pixelmaker]

Hi there,

for me personally CAMBAM and  my workflow is perfect.
I spent a lot of time to automize my workflow to 99%.
But I´m using 2.5D only. The known bugs I can see are not nice, but acceptable to me.

For me there is another question in this bermuda area :

For Andy seems "disappeared" :

1.) What about the license server ?
What will happen, if it´s turned off or gets damaged ?
Can I run CAMBAM anyway ?
Can I Install CAMBAM if need a new computer ?

Hallo Bernhard,

I have always worked with all the options CamBam offers, including 3D Mop. I don't know of anything better and I'm not actively looking for an alternative.
I simply didn't know that CamBam causes problems because I never noticed it. This is simply because I have always used the identical values for stepover and resolution.
There are quite a few bugs that I have learned to deal with, even in earlier versions.
Many of the old bugs that still exist were then rediscovered.
David only created the bug report a few years ago. The Gitlab bug list has only been around since version 1.
Over the years I have written bugs and workarounds in my wiki.

To your questions
1.) There is no "license server".
2) There is only one server that outputs the message that you have the current version.
This message can be switched of in the configuration under: "Check for updates at program start". There is then no connection to the server.
There is no online check of the license number.

3) Can I run CAMBAM anyway?
I have been using CamBam on my milling machine for 10 years without a connection to the Internet.  CamBam doesn't need it and neither do I.


4) I have saved the current installation file (and all old versions) on my computer. I think I should have all versions since CamBam Beta 0.5.b in my backup.

If you have a new computer, you install .NET 4, then CamBam, enter your license number and continue working
The license is contained in a text file (CamBamPro.lic) within the CamBam programs folder. It is better to save this file (CamBamPro.lic) as well, then you don't have to type in the license, just copy the file into the cambams program folder.

[ThisAmplifierIsLoud]

So i did.

Thank  you, Mr. Pixelmaker !

[nifty1a]

Hi there,
.
.
For Andy seems "disappeared" :

Hasn't quite disappeared, but is very busy with business... I met him at the end of May and had a chat.

Paul