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FeatureCam/PartMaker/PowerMill Help

rgollob
Advocate

FeatureCam/PartMaker/PowerMill Help

rgollob
Advocate
Advocate

Ok guys,

New to FeatureCama and PartMaker. We've used Inventor HSM for a number of years and primarily use Siemens NX.

That being said our Lathe Dept. has been doing all the programming in PartMaker for our turn, swiss and mill-turn equipment. Sadly the sole programmer for that dept./software has passed away and I need to get my department trained up in this software(s). so I have a few questions:

 

1.What software is best to move forward in out of FeatureCam, PartMaker or Powermill?

 

2. I see all kinds of videos online showing the machine simulation in these software's, but I have yet to figure where to acquire the simulation files and how to get them setup. Where and how do I get them setup?

 

3. Are any of the files compatible with each other? (Open PartMaker Files in FeatureCam or Powermill)

 

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ChrisDPCnc
Advocate
Advocate

Sorry to hear of the loss of another skilled man.

The lack of response maybe that there is a separate forum for theses software packages although technically they now come under the fusion umbrella.  So to answer

1- if most of your current programs are in PartMaker then stick with it for now. You probably have working posts and they are a paid item in all three of those softwares.  PartMaker is super easy to learn and use.  I say for now as i think we can all see autodesk's direction of travel and i'm sure all of PartMakers functionality will appear in Fusion at a later date.

 

2- Simulation files, talk to your reseller if you can't find them, the come with your licenced post processor .MCH file.

 

3- They are not directly compatable, however PartMaker can import PowerMill tool paths for complex milling and FeatureCam can output G-Code from some PartMaker posts (they were the same software before Autodesk or even Delcam days).

 

Hope that helps or somebody chips in with their thoughts too.

 

rgollob
Advocate
Advocate

Thank you Chris! For the condolences and the reply.

 

I didn't see a forum for part maker, only FeatureCam and PowerMill. I suppose I could cross post this if that would help. 

 

My only thought with switching from the Partmaker software into something more fitting (If there is) is that the large majority of the programs he produced he ended up hand editing outside the CAM software. So were not in a good spot to repost the code form those anyways. In addition, they spent weeks proving out programs on our Okuma mill-turn because there are no simulation files and they would post out the program and then hand edit the code that was needed at the machine. I don't want to continue this going forward. We will always have PartMaker and FeatureCam to support those files if needed, But to me, it appears PowerMill is a better and more robust software to use for these machines going forward. That being said I am unfamiliar with each of these and just going by the information I can find on the web. I have reached out to a few people at Autodesk that we have been in contact with in the past and haven't received any response from them. Possibly no longer employed with them...

 

The posts have seemed to be fairly easy to acquire from Autodesk and get modified to work with our specific machines. I will reach out to the reseller and see if they can support for the simulation files as I have not found any .MCH file included in the download.

 

If you were just getting started, would PowerMill be your software of choice?     

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Anonymous
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dames99
Advocate
Advocate

PowerMILL does not support MillTurn machines. It can only do simple turning. I think it's meant for 5 axis mills with vertical turning capabilities. FeatureCAM is your best best for MillTurn. If you need to program for swiss or bar fed mills, I hear PartMaker is better although I haven't used it much. It's also fairly outdated in my opinion.

 

 

Doesn't NX support MillTurn? I've never used it.

kelbie.ockey
Alumni
Alumni

Just to echo what everyone here is saying, PowerMill does not really sound like the best fit for you tbh.

 

As others have mentioned, PMK is super quick to learn, and as it is what your programmer was using, it can definitely work for your shop for the immediate future. If you start to want to expand into milling, etc. you automatically have FC that can support your needs and even Fusion for that matter. Your reseller can help you with training, posts, sim files, etc.

 

Furthermore, as others have mentioned here, Fusion is really becoming increasingly popular but doesn't support some of your machines at this point. Currently, Fusion, FeatureCAM, and PMK are all bundled together as I understand it. If it were me, I would probably keep things moving in PMK, and dabble with FC and Fusion for the simpler stuff till you get a feel for which one your prefer. If you have anything that is basic 3-axis milling (or even positional multi-axis), or simple lathe parts, Fusion might honestly be your best bet for that type of work. 



Kelbie Ockey
Sr. Implementation Consultant
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