CAD/CAM Software Comparison Table

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CAD/CAM Comparison Table

CAD/CAM software is complex, a table like the one below only gives some quantitative comparisons. The table says nothing about the packages' ease of use, user interface, usefulness of the help files, technical support, update policies, etc. These qualitative comparisons should also be considered when purchasing software.
Unfortunately, at the present time, Desktop CNC is not able to furnish reviews on these packages. This table is a start, even though it has many limitations.

The main source of information for this table was from e-mail with the manufacturers. The manufacturers that do not have information associated with their name have been sent e-mail but have not yet responded.

Minimum
CAD/CAM Min.
Available Memory Video Card # 0f Axis Import Formats Machines Types Surface or Modeling
Product Name Manufacturer or Processor Post Processors Available Category Associativity Demo type Cost*
Platforms Required Requirments Supported Supported Supported Solid Type
CAM Speed (MHz)
(MBytes)
Pentium 3
processor 933 256 MB Mill, Lathe, Router, Solids &
Windows ME,
BobCAD-CAM MHz or better RAM with 128 MB Video DXF, IGES & STEP, Wire EDM, Plasma, Surfaces currently not Free demo download from
BobCAD-CAM CAD-CAM 2000, XP, XP Over 500 G-Code posts with added VB Scripts 2, 3 & 4 Nurbs All $2,495.00
V21 (or comparable 60MB hard Card ParaSolid, Solid Works Burning, WaterJet & as well as available www.bobcad.com
Professional
Celeron/AMD disk. Laser wireframe
Processor)
BobCAD-
Hobby PRO CAD-CAM $995
CAM
AXYZ, Larken, Precix, Techno-Isel see http:// Routers, Engravers,
36 formats including DXF, Polygon, Machine, Engraving, Forward & download crippled version Starting at
ProfileLab CADlink CAD/CAM IBM 16MBytes Any www.cadlink.com/Profilelab/outputdev.asp for 3 Water Jets, Laser & Surface
EPS, DWG, G-code, PLT Polyarc Signs, Mold making Backward (no output functions) $1,495.00
complete list Plasma Cutters
Mills, Lathes, EDMs,
IGES, DXF, STL, SLA,
Punch Presses, Machine, Jewerly,
Advanced CamSoft Gerber, HPGL, CadKey & $1,295 -
CAD/CAM IBM 233MHz 32MBytes 2MBytes VRAM Over 700 available, Editable post processor 2, 3, 4 & 5 Routers, Laser Both Nurbs Engraving, available on CD
System 3000 Corp. APT, CATIA CL, Excellon, $17,995
Cutters,Plasma Moldmaking
Gerber
Cutters & Water Jets
Mills, Routers,
FlashCut, MicroKinetics, Shopbot, EMC & Lathes, EDM, Wireframe, must fill out demo request
Vector-Cam Centriforce CAD/CAM Wintel 100MHz 32MBytes 8MBytes 2, 2.5, 3 & 4 DXF $795.00
Configurable Waterjet, Laser & Surface form for 30 day trial
Plasma Cutters
CimatronE Cimatron Ltd
36 formats supported Mills, Routers,
64 Mbytes Hundreds available, Configurable post including, IGES, STEP, Lathes, EDM, Wireframe,
CNC Windows 2000, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, Full toolpath Demo available on CD from
Mastercam X CAD/CAM 2.0 GHz 512 MBytes Open GL processors based on Machine Definition and Autodesk, Solidworks, Waterjet, Laser, Both Surface, All
Software, Inc. XP 5+ associativity reseller
compatible Control Definition Solidedge, Rhino, Pro-E, Plasma cutters, Solids
Catia Punch presses
3D studio, 3D DXF, STL, Jewerly, Engraving,
Windows 95, nVIDIA chip
Over 50 available, Configuarble post processor, IGES, BMP, TIF, EPS, AI, Moldmaking,
ArtCAM Pro Delcam plc. CAD/CAM 98, 2000, NT Pentium 266 64MBytes set 3&4 Mills, Rapid Prototype Proprietary 3D Relief download 2 video demos $7,500.00
3D laser engraving, STL Export 2D DXF, 3D Laser, Woodworking
4.0 recommended
Renishaw & G-code Signmaking
Windows 95, Mold making, Model
N/A for CAM N/A for CAM
MillWizard Delcam plc. CAM 98, 2000, NT Pentium 133 32MBytes Any Over 50 available, Configuarble post processor 3 3D studio, 3D DXF & STL Mills Proprietary making, Rapid download evaluation version $250.00
only only
4.0 Prototyping
IGES, VDA, STL, STEP,
nVIDIA chip DXF, DWG, Solid Works, Surfaces,
N/A for CAM Molds, Tools, Dies, N/A for CAM
PowerMILL Delcam plc. CAM Windows XP Pentium 3 512MBytes set 150, Configuarble post processor 2, 3 ,4 & 5 Solid Edge, UG, ProE, Mills Solids, Demo on request $18,000
only Prototypes only
recommended Catia, ACIS, ParaSolid, Triangles
Rhino, Cimtron, SDRC
Autograv, AXYZ, Boxford, Charlyrobot, Cielle,
CPM, Deckel, Defiance, Denford, Emco, Fanuc,
Any, but runs Rapid Prototyping,
FlashCut, Gerber, Haas, Heidenhain, Hurco,
faster with Moldmaking,
Delft Spline Win 9x/2x/NT/ Pentium or Isel, ISO G-codes, Komplot, Korner, Kosy, STL, DXF (polygon data N/A for CAM N/A for CAM $1,150.00
Deskproto V3 CAM 16MBytes cards that 3&4 Mills Both Jewelry, Sign download trial version
Systems XP better Kuhlmann, Light Machines, Maho, Makino, only), VRML only only $575.00***
support Open/ Making, Model
MaxNC, MicroKinetics, Mimaki, Minitech,
GL making
Multicam, Num, Pacer, Roland, Sensa, Servo,
Shopbot cnc2spb, Taig, Techno-Isel, Venture
Autograv, AXYZ, Boxford, Charlyrobot, Cielle,
CPM, Deckel, Defiance, Denford, Emco, Fanuc,
Any, but runs Rapid Prototyping,
FlashCut, Gerber, Haas, Heidenhain, Hurco,
faster with Moldmaking,
Delft Spline Win 9x/2x/NT/ Pentium or Isel, ISO G-codes, Komplot, Korner, Kosy, STL, DXF (polygon data N/A for CAM N/A for CAM
DeskProto Lite CAM 16MBytes cards that 3 Mills Both Jewelry, Sign download trial version $260.00
Systems XP better Kuhlmann, Light Machines, Maho, Makino, only), VRML only only
support Open/ Making, Model
MaxNC, MicroKinetics, Mimaki, Minitech,
GL making
Multicam, Num, Pacer, Roland, Sensa, Servo,
Shopbot cnc2spb, Taig, Techno-Isel, Venture
DP
Esprit Technology
Corp.
FeatureCAM Engineering Windows 95,
166 MHz 1MBytes Price set by
(FeatureMILL, Geometry 98, 2000, NT 32MBytes Over 100 available, Editable post processor 2.5 & 3 IGES, DXF download trial version
Pentium Minimum dealer
FeatureTURN) Systems 4.0

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 CAD/CAM Software Comparison Table

GibbsCAM Gibbs
EPS, DXF, IGES, STL, All
Windows 95, 4MBytes Mills, Lathes, Laser Fractile Engraving, $1,000 -
Cimagrafi Graphitech CAD/CAM 100MHz 64MBytes Over 200 available, Editable post processor 2, 3, 4 & 5 raster formats & Any point Surface Backward
98, 2000 & NT Minimum cutters & Scanners surfaces Moldmaking, Jewelry, $12,000
cloud format
Graphic Jewelry, mold
IGES, STL, RHINO, DXF, $4,000-
SimpleNC Products CAM IBM 500MHz 128MB OpenGL G-Code Compatibile, Roland Direct 2 & 3 Axis Mill, Router Both Nurbs making, Engraving, Yes download
Cadceus, FRESDAM $8,000
North America Dies, Electrodes
STL, DXF, Vrml, 3Ds & N/A for CAM N/A for CAM
StlWork IMService CAM Wintel 100MHz 32MBytes 8MBytes Configurable 3 Mills & Routers Solid must fill out demo request $250.00
others only only
Mills, Lathes, Punch
DXF, DWG, IGES, STEP, Presses, Routers,
Licom Windows 95, full toolpath $3,000 -
AlphaCAM CAD/CAM 200MHz 64MBytes Any Library has many thousands 2,3,4 & 5 Parasolid, Rhino, CADL, EDM, Stone Cutters, Surface Nurbs All CNC machining** on-line demo w/ Licom rep
Systems 98, 2000, NT associativity $15,000
ANVIL, BMP, TIFF, STL Plasma Cutters &
Water Jets
Molds, Dies, Models,
VisualMill v3.0 N/A for CAM N/A for CAM
MecSoft, Inc. CAM PC Windows Over 200 2.5 & 3 Mills, Routers Rapid Prototyping, $1,450.00
Basic only only
Jewerly, Sign Making
IGES, Parasolides, Rhino,
Molds, Dies, Models,
500MHz or 128MBytes OpenGL DXF, DWG, STL, SLA, N/A for CAM N/A for CAM Download getting started
VisualMill v3.0 MecSoft, Inc. CAM PC Windows Over 200, Customizable 2.5, 3 & 4 Mills, Routers Both Rapid Prototyping, $3,450.00
Better or Better Support VRML, VDA/FS, only only tutorial
Jewerly, Sign Making
SolidWorks & SolidEdge
3 out of 4 for HPGL / Text-DXF / Isel-
2½D CAD/ NCP / Windows-EMF /
CAM PostScript-EPS / ISO G-
module 3 axis applications,
code / MasterCam-NCI / Mills, lathes, laser
User definable + direct machine control for Isel- (XYZ or cutting, engraving,
Windows 95/98/ 100 MHz NEE-AMC / ProMac-PMC / cutters, water jet
800x600x16 Automation / Techno-Isel / Sigea / Art'Tech / SM- XAZ) 3D surface milling, prototyping, 1430
Galaad 3 NIL CAD/CAM ME/NT-4/2000/ (Pentium 233 8MBytes MecaSoft-NCC / Alecop- cutters, plasma Surface available on CD
minimum Motion / Roland / Vectis / GravoGraph / WelSoft- wire meshes sign making, 2 axes 320***
XP recommended) ALC / WelSoft-WMC / cutters, glue & paint
Mill / Charlyrobot / etc. turning, motion & I/O
3, 4 & 5 for Excellon-EXL / Gerber / dispensers
control programming
3D machine IGN-DIS /Spot-Image-
driver DEM / XYZ text coords /
BMP images
Nunerical
Control
NCL V9.4
Computer
Sciences
parametric
wireframe, CAD,
OPEN MIND
Win XP and Pentium 4, 1.6 256 MB Open Many available or custom built; user can modify surface curve, toolpath Information CD; time limited $4000~
hyperMILL® Technologies CAD/CAM 1 GB 2, 3, 4 & 5 IGS, STP, VDA, DWG, DXF mill, router all
Win 2000 GHz GL parameters and solid surface, parameters software license $50000
AG
solid recognize
CAD change
OPEN MIND
hyperMILL in Win XP and Pentium 4, 1.6 256 MB Open Many available or custom built; user can modify surface N/A for CAM N/A for CAM Information CD; time limited $3000~
Technologies CAM 1 GB 2, 3, 4 & 5 IGS, STP, IPT, SAT mill, router all
Inventor Win 2000 GHz GL parameters and solid only only software license $50000
AG
Edgecam Pathtrace Plc
Pro/Engineer
PTC CAD/CAM Solid
Wildfire
Jewelry, Engraving,
Routers, Engravers, 3D->$995.00
RAMS 3D & RAMS WINX. NT, EPS, DXF, 3D-DXF, STL, N/A for CAM Mold making, N/A for CAM download 15 day fully
CAM 200MHz 64MB 2MB Over 200 available, Configurable post processor 2&3 Water JetsPlasma Both Enterprise->
RAMS Enterprise Software, Inc 2000, XP IGES, VDA, 3dm, SLA only Woodworking Sign only functional trial version
Cutters $1,895.00
making
Jewelry, Engraving,
Routers, Engravers,
RAMS WINX. NT, EPS, DXF, 3D-DXF, STL, N/A for CAM Mold making, N/A for CAM
RAMS Gold CAM 200MHz 64MB 2MB Over 200 available, Configurable post processor 2, 3 & 4 Water JetsPlasma Both $2,995.00
Software, Inc 2000, XP IGES, VDA, 3dm, SLA only Woodworking Sign only
Cutters
making
Machine, Jewelry,
download either Demo+
Engraving, Mold
version (fully functional, but
Mills, Router, making,
SPRUT IGES, DXF, STL, can not save projects), or Starting at
233MHz or 64MBytes or OpenGL 2, 2½, 3, 4 & Engravers, Laser, N/A for CAM Woodworking, Sign N/A for CAM
SprutCAM Technology CAM PC Windows Over 250 available, Configurable post processor Parasolid, Rhino, VRML, Solid Evaluation version (fully $1,700.00
Better Better Support 5 Plasma & Water Jets only making, Punch/Dies, only
Inc. PostScript, SGM functional trial version), or $500.00***
Cutters Electrodes, Rapid
Software Lock version (fully
prototyping, Musical
functional version)
instrument
IGES,DXF, DWG, Mold Making, Mills,
Mills, Routers,
Parasolid, Solid Edge, Nurb, Routers, Lathes,
OpenGL Lathes, EDM, full toolpath $4,000 -
Surfcam Surfware CAD/CAM Windows 100MHz 256MBytes over 1,000 availabe plus end user configurable 2,3,4 & 5 Solid Works, SAT, VDA, Both Surfaces, EDM, Waterjet, On Line, user requested
Support Waterjet, Laser & associativity $18,000
CATIA (up to version 5), Wireframe Laser & Plasma
Plasma Cutters
Inventor, ProE, Step, UG Cutters
Tebis
Unigraphics

* All prices are given in US$ except where noted

** Note this is the manufacturer's wording
*** Educational discount price

Home Software CAD/CAM General Info Special Purpose Software G-Code Table Mill G-Code Table Lathe

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 CAD/CAM Software Comparison Table

Last update: Nov. 2006

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