Bob CAD CAM Express a more than meets the eye

Bob CAD CAM Express 

Today, finding a CAD CAM system with capable functionality that does not require a subscription and is reasonably priced is almost impossible. BobCAD CAM has developed an answer to this problem with BobCAD CAM Express.

BobCAD CAM Express includes everything a small to medium shop requires to design, revise, and program most parts of the market. Let’s explore the functionality capabilities and limitations of these three areas.

 

CAD Capabilities 

BobCAD CAM Express is a medium-level CAD system with several 2D, 3D, and Evaluation features. All its CAD features are organized in a ribbon-style interface. The big icons in the ribbon allow the user to find what they are looking for easily, and every function in the system has a help system article to facilitate and reduce the learning curve.

BobCAD can import the most relevant CAD files in the industry, including:

AutoCAD (*.dxf), AutoCAD Part (*.dwg), IGES (*.igs, *.iges), SolidWorks (*.sldprt), Step (*.step), Rhinocad (*.3dm), STL (*.stl), ACIS (*.sat), Parasolid (*.x_t, *.x_b)

CAD Limitations

BobCAD is not a fully parametric CAD system. Therefore, users cannot add relationships within the geometry.

BobCAD does not have an integrated assembly system but allows users to merge different files.

BobCAD does not generate automatic prints, but users have all the tools necessary to create blueprints.

2D features:

• Basic 2D drafting. 
  • Points
  • Lines
  • Arcs
  • Spline
  • Filets
  • Offsets
  • Chamfers
  • Point patters.
• Costume Shapes
  • Shape Library with 40 different parametric shapes.
  • Ellipses
  • Spiral
  • Rectangles
  • Gears
  • Text
• Editing Capabilities 
  • Erase Doubles
  • Cleanup and Optimize
  • Align
  • 2D Boolean
  • Translate
  • Rotate
  • Mirror
  • Scale
  • Trim geometry
  • Brake geometry.
  • Deform
  • Drag
  • Stretch
  • Explode Geometry
• 2D CAM-Related Features
  • Unwrap 
  • Spun Profile 
  • Extract Isocurves 
  • Silhouette
  • Section View 
  • Project Curves 
  • Extract Edges 

3D features:

• Basic Surfaces. 
  • Extrude Boss
  • Extrude Cut 
  • Revolve
  • Sweep 
  • 3 Edges 
  • 4 Edges
  • Multisided 
  • Skin 
  • Swung
• Solids 
  • Cube 
  • Cylinder
  • Solid Filet 
  • Solid Chamfer 
  • Cone
  • Torus 
  • Sphere 
• Editing Capabilities 
  • Extend
  • Edit Drill Properties
  • Shell
  • Break Surface
  • Copy Face
  • Stitch Surface to Solid
  • Surface Filet
• 3D CAM-Related Features
  • Advance Holes
  • Split
  • Imprint
  • Add Tap Properties 

 Evaluation features:

• Dimension and Quoting 
  • Auto
  • Vertical
  • Horizontal
  • Angle
  • Measure

With the current CAD capabilities, a BobCAD Express user should be able to draw, modify, and quote almost any kind of 2D or 3D part.  

Programming Capabilities 

BobCAD CAM Express is a contemporary CAM system capable of programming 2D and 3D parts of low to medium complexity. Equipped with robust functionality, it minimizes tool wear, eliminates air cutting, and, notably, grants users unparalleled control over their toolpaths—an advancement not witnessed since BobCAD CAM V21.

Programming Limitations 

While BobCAD CAM Express may need more advanced 3D toolpaths found in BobCAD CAM PRO and Premium editions, this limitation is generally insignificant unless the user needs to program complex surfaces or machine-rigid materials. For most applications, this difference shouldn’t pose a concern.

Toolpaths Included 

• 2D Toolpaths
  • Automatic Facing
    • It automatically recognizes the stock shape and depth to determine the facing parameters. 
  • Automatic Drilling 
    • BobCAD CAM uses solid model geometry information to identify and categorize the drilling operations in the model. In other words, it will know if the solid model has a counterbore hole, the hole’s size and depth, the counterbore’s size and depth, and the initial drilling position. (this feature works with native and imported solid models)
  • Profiling 
    • Minimize Retracts: Now, BobCAD CAM will keep the tool down, eliminating unnecessary retractions to clearance. 
    • Corner Slowdown: For the first time, BobCAD CAM users can control their feed rates when approaching a corner. This feature is vital to reduce tool wear.
  • Pocketing 
    • Now, users can determine the exact starting position and type of lead when programming pockets. 
  • Mill Thread
    • Mill Trhead is one of BobCAD CAM’s best features. To program a milling thread, select the radius or starting point and follow the CAM wizard, answering basic questions like inside or outside thread, whether you want to side rough, diameter, height, pitch angle, direction, and type of lead in and out. Once you fill in all the information, click compute, and the toolpath will be completed!
  • 2D Engraving. 
    • Corner Slowdown: For the first time, BobCAD CAM users can control their feed rates when approaching a corner. This feature is vital to reduce tool wear.
  • Chamfer 
    • Minimize Retracts: Now, BobCAD CAM will keep the tool down, eliminating unnecessary retractions to clearance. 
    • Corner Slowdown: For the first time, BobCAD CAM users can control their feed rates when approaching a corner. This feature is vital to reduce tool wear.
  • Plunge Rough 
    • Include pecking in your plunge operations to rough, more rigid materials with less impact on your tool. 
  • Drag Knife 
    • Now, BobCAD has the ability to program, compensate, and simulate Drag Knife cutters, adding more power to our CAD-CAM system. 

 

• 3D Toolpaths
  • Slice Planar Rough 
    • Rough any surface with a high level of control and functionality, like Lace angle, cut direction, ignore or cut holes, lead control, and, for the first time, the ability to control lead-in and lead-out feed rates and convert rapid movements to feed.  
    • Arc Fit: When generating G code, use G17 to create 3D arcs and reduce the number of code lines.
  • Slice Planar Finish
    • Finish any surface with a high level of control with functionality, like Lace angle, cut direction, ignore or cut holes, lead control, and, for the first time, the ability to control lead-in and lead-out feed rates and convert rapid movements to feed.  
    • Control the quality of your finish operation with the capacity to control the machining tolerance. 
    • Arc Fit: When generating G code, use G17 to create 3D arcs and reduce the number of code lines.
  • 3 Axis Wireframe 
    • Program any wireframe geometry that is interpolating in 3 axes. Select the wireframe, turn off the step-over and number of cuts if necessary, and click compute. This toolpath is perfect for programming 3D text or wireframes projected into surfaces, or you can even use it to create your toolpath. 
• MDI
  • Add Commands to your post.
    • Now, every toolpath within BobCAD includes the MDI dialog box. The MDI allows users to add commands and lines to their G-code Before the tool changes, after the tool changes, or after an operation. 

In conclusion, BobCAD CAM Express has more than enough functionality to design, revise, and program most parts of the CAD CAM world and for most machine types, including Plasma, Laser, Waterjets, Routers, and Milling machines.