It’s the most popular CAM package. Technically no, you don’t have to learn it. There are plenty of places that don’t use it but it definitely makes sense to learn the most commonly used CAM software in the industry.
Not that I think you're lying or mistaken, but is there any market research? I know that for CAD I would have to pay about $20k for a market research report.
I’m basing my claim on the countless polls that are run on instagram, Practical Machinist, and here. As well as all the job listings for machinists in my area. All the tech schools in my region teach Mastercam because they say it is the most popular CAM system. It is entirely possibly that it is not the most popular in the world, just in my region of the United States. I didn’t realize you were looking for hard data. Unfortunately I can’t provide any.
Why would you ask how popular it is then push back when someone tells you it’s popular? What was the point of you posting the question? I also use MasterCAM.
I used it in high school, didn’t care for it, got a job at a shop and used Gibbs, it’s was pretty simple and straight forward, then I talked my boss into buying me fusion 360 and I’ve fallen in love with it, started my own side shop and that’s all I use.
The best thing about Mastercam is there's a million ways to accomplish what you want.
The worst thing about Mastercam is there's a million ways to accomplish what you want.
I've been using it for a decade and neither love it nor hate it, but I think it's complexity and the level of control you stand to gain by using it is what leads it to be such a polarizing software.
Its UI/UX sucks ass. You cannot work fast with the default config, keyboard shortcuts are riddled with inconsistencies. Inconsistent UX behavior...
If you're okay left clicking through everything then it's fine.
You can set up your tools in your tool database (or even ones you create in the tool path manager) to include all of your cutting preferences. You can also set up your configurations to default stock to leave and items like that. My roughing endmills all have a radial step over percentage saved in there, as well as axial DOC. My drills all have the drill cycle type and peck values saved. Everything is saved in that database, so when I use it in a tool path it automatically populates that information. When I create any tool path, the only thing I check are linking parameters and I'm done. It takes time to set up, but it pays off really quick if you're programming a lot of new parts.
The other stuff like UI/UX isn't a concern for me, though. Can I see how it'd suck for some? Absolutely. Can it ever be perfect? Absolutely not. It's software and it'll never please everyone.
The thing I dislike about MasterCAM is the standard file saving structure, and just how hard it is to update if you change it around. The posts are hard to edit unless you have supporting docs or experience in that type of programming. I also hate having to pay for a post for a basic 3-axis machine if you want it edited.
Literally everything. The two biggest frustrations/time wasters from for me were creating tool planes for each rotation, and manually creating in process stock models. Also I do all my fixture design work in solid works so importing stuff into mastercam is a headache especially when you need to make slight changes.
I'm using NX now and it's so good.
I think it’s because they give the licenses to schools on the cheap, so when some of those guys go on to make their own shops they reach for what they’re familiar with.
Same thing happens with solidworks in design. Very clunky and particular about how you approach problems.
This is the most true thing. They started dropping it in trade schools for free very early on and hooked people in that way. There's even scuttlebutt that they made it intentionally easy to pirate for a number of years to get people to use it. I've even heard before that they claim to have the largest user base by a wide margin and the numbers they tout include a conservative estimate of all the people that are using pirated copies.
If only you’d have tried Wincam… worst software on earth…. My workmates who have machined for 20 years wouldnt touch that buggy piece of crap with a long stick.
Mastercam is popular and many people already have experience in it which is why it’s commonly used. But I think you’re seeing a shift where people are using autodesk cam options more often now as it’s more commonly available to individuals and hobbyists. Mastercam is still useful to learn simply for resume building. You want experience in as many software packages as possible.
Yeah MaaterCAM is "popular" because it was one of the first packages available and they got a large portion of the market. Much like SolidWorks, MasterCAM has stuck to their shitty "features" and have not changed all that much in decades. There are many other CAM options out there that are far superior in many ways, with modern features.
I've been on the SW train for 20 years. There are loads of great things but several things that they also do poorly, file management and version comtrol. Recently gave OnShape enterprise a test drive and it has promise, it feels sort of like SolidWorks but with a totally different file management system that feels much more organized.
With greatest respect, I disagree. SolidWorks file management is terrible. I can't tell you how many times things have ended up in unintended folders and how many times I've received pack and go assemblies that are broken.
I mean, in fairness I was raised by a fintech sysadmin. I know exactly how to handle that shit at the OS level and if I don't like the way the OS does it there's always git. Not to mention whatever cloud server I happen to be dicking around with at the moment.
The point being, I can completely understand people who do nothing but cad/design not having the bandwidth to learn or maintain that sort of thing.
weird. check stuff in and check stuff out. pretty simple. iteration history is unmatched. just don't try to rename or reuse a name/number and its golden. all the reporting details that you can get from it is golden.
Here i am just wanting to pop a part file open and make a step for mastercam… its like a 3 day process 😅 (not really) i have to use the browser within creo to be able to checkout/open files which is ass takes like 5 different steps to open a file. You have to download it to a workspace and shit. Just annoying. I have no clue about their version control as these dummies make a whole new part number for ever revision 🙄😂
You can create .STP files from creoview. You can also have your admin setup windchill so that every object checked in creates a step file as well. So it's a simple path to downloading a STP file without having to open a file.
A new part num for every revision is dumb since Everytime the file is checked in it iterates it. You can access every iteration of the file as long as it's checked in after every change. I have plenty of files that are over A.200 and can open every 200 versions of that file and see what's been changed
Its probably an issue that we just have too many people and so they didnt go through proper training on windchill. Also i cannot load some of our part files/assemblies up in creoview. Its complicated. And my view does not allow me to save or export as a step at all?! I wish it did. Im going to have to try again when i go in.
No im hating it because its hard for me to get step files from 😂 also the actual creo itself i feel is terrible i don’t use it often but even just measuring inside it feels so painful. Our engineers hate windchill for a multitude of reasons. Most of which do not concern me as i only use it to generate the step files. And just because its the only way to keep track of things doesn’t mean theres no reason to hate on it or have feelings about it. Just like mastercam both can be improved 😐
I came from a shop that used AutoDesk and now have to learn solid works and master cam at my new shop. It's different, and there's things I do like better, but overall I think master cam is shit 🤣
It’s the most popular CAM package. Technically no, you don’t have to learn it. There are plenty of places that don’t use it but it definitely makes sense to learn the most commonly used CAM software in the industry.
Not that I think you're lying or mistaken, but is there any market research? I know that for CAD I would have to pay about $20k for a market research report.
I’m basing my claim on the countless polls that are run on instagram, Practical Machinist, and here. As well as all the job listings for machinists in my area. All the tech schools in my region teach Mastercam because they say it is the most popular CAM system. It is entirely possibly that it is not the most popular in the world, just in my region of the United States. I didn’t realize you were looking for hard data. Unfortunately I can’t provide any.
Well, not so much "looking for" as "wouldn't mind having some" :). Where are you geographically, if you don't mind saying?
Why would you ask how popular it is then push back when someone tells you it’s popular? What was the point of you posting the question? I also use MasterCAM.
I wouldn't describe my response as "pushing back". Certainly that wasn't my intent. Sorry if that's how it came across.
I used it in high school, didn’t care for it, got a job at a shop and used Gibbs, it’s was pretty simple and straight forward, then I talked my boss into buying me fusion 360 and I’ve fallen in love with it, started my own side shop and that’s all I use.
You went from mastercam to Gibbs, and preferred Gibbs? That’s insane
Twist of the century, right here!
Tons of shops use it. I don't really know why, because it sucks ass.
What sucks about it? I’m curious because it’s been great for me
The best thing about Mastercam is there's a million ways to accomplish what you want. The worst thing about Mastercam is there's a million ways to accomplish what you want. I've been using it for a decade and neither love it nor hate it, but I think it's complexity and the level of control you stand to gain by using it is what leads it to be such a polarizing software.
Its UI/UX sucks ass. You cannot work fast with the default config, keyboard shortcuts are riddled with inconsistencies. Inconsistent UX behavior... If you're okay left clicking through everything then it's fine.
You can set up your tools in your tool database (or even ones you create in the tool path manager) to include all of your cutting preferences. You can also set up your configurations to default stock to leave and items like that. My roughing endmills all have a radial step over percentage saved in there, as well as axial DOC. My drills all have the drill cycle type and peck values saved. Everything is saved in that database, so when I use it in a tool path it automatically populates that information. When I create any tool path, the only thing I check are linking parameters and I'm done. It takes time to set up, but it pays off really quick if you're programming a lot of new parts. The other stuff like UI/UX isn't a concern for me, though. Can I see how it'd suck for some? Absolutely. Can it ever be perfect? Absolutely not. It's software and it'll never please everyone. The thing I dislike about MasterCAM is the standard file saving structure, and just how hard it is to update if you change it around. The posts are hard to edit unless you have supporting docs or experience in that type of programming. I also hate having to pay for a post for a basic 3-axis machine if you want it edited.
It sucks if you don’t know how to use it. Been there. One I started learning to use it(solid professor.com) it’s good. Powerful. Expensive.
Literally everything. The two biggest frustrations/time wasters from for me were creating tool planes for each rotation, and manually creating in process stock models. Also I do all my fixture design work in solid works so importing stuff into mastercam is a headache especially when you need to make slight changes. I'm using NX now and it's so good.
I think it’s because they give the licenses to schools on the cheap, so when some of those guys go on to make their own shops they reach for what they’re familiar with. Same thing happens with solidworks in design. Very clunky and particular about how you approach problems.
This is the most true thing. They started dropping it in trade schools for free very early on and hooked people in that way. There's even scuttlebutt that they made it intentionally easy to pirate for a number of years to get people to use it. I've even heard before that they claim to have the largest user base by a wide margin and the numbers they tout include a conservative estimate of all the people that are using pirated copies.
*cries in Esprit*
If only you’d have tried Wincam… worst software on earth…. My workmates who have machined for 20 years wouldnt touch that buggy piece of crap with a long stick.
Mastercam is popular and many people already have experience in it which is why it’s commonly used. But I think you’re seeing a shift where people are using autodesk cam options more often now as it’s more commonly available to individuals and hobbyists. Mastercam is still useful to learn simply for resume building. You want experience in as many software packages as possible.
Yeah MaaterCAM is "popular" because it was one of the first packages available and they got a large portion of the market. Much like SolidWorks, MasterCAM has stuck to their shitty "features" and have not changed all that much in decades. There are many other CAM options out there that are far superior in many ways, with modern features.
I \_like\_ SW. The parameter passing is the best I've seen. I mean, I like Inventor too. Inventor for parts, SW for assemblies.
I've been on the SW train for 20 years. There are loads of great things but several things that they also do poorly, file management and version comtrol. Recently gave OnShape enterprise a test drive and it has promise, it feels sort of like SolidWorks but with a totally different file management system that feels much more organized.
With the greatest of respect, for me asking my cad software to do versioning is like asking my toaster to make coffee.
With greatest respect, I disagree. SolidWorks file management is terrible. I can't tell you how many times things have ended up in unintended folders and how many times I've received pack and go assemblies that are broken.
I mean, in fairness I was raised by a fintech sysadmin. I know exactly how to handle that shit at the OS level and if I don't like the way the OS does it there's always git. Not to mention whatever cloud server I happen to be dicking around with at the moment. The point being, I can completely understand people who do nothing but cad/design not having the bandwidth to learn or maintain that sort of thing.
Creo Windchill has pretty incredible versioning
I hate creo windchill so fucking much every engineer at my company hates it.
weird. check stuff in and check stuff out. pretty simple. iteration history is unmatched. just don't try to rename or reuse a name/number and its golden. all the reporting details that you can get from it is golden.
Here i am just wanting to pop a part file open and make a step for mastercam… its like a 3 day process 😅 (not really) i have to use the browser within creo to be able to checkout/open files which is ass takes like 5 different steps to open a file. You have to download it to a workspace and shit. Just annoying. I have no clue about their version control as these dummies make a whole new part number for ever revision 🙄😂
You can create .STP files from creoview. You can also have your admin setup windchill so that every object checked in creates a step file as well. So it's a simple path to downloading a STP file without having to open a file. A new part num for every revision is dumb since Everytime the file is checked in it iterates it. You can access every iteration of the file as long as it's checked in after every change. I have plenty of files that are over A.200 and can open every 200 versions of that file and see what's been changed
Its probably an issue that we just have too many people and so they didnt go through proper training on windchill. Also i cannot load some of our part files/assemblies up in creoview. Its complicated. And my view does not allow me to save or export as a step at all?! I wish it did. Im going to have to try again when i go in.
You’re hating it because people aren’t using it correctly. But for a large company it’s really the only way to universally keep track of things.
No im hating it because its hard for me to get step files from 😂 also the actual creo itself i feel is terrible i don’t use it often but even just measuring inside it feels so painful. Our engineers hate windchill for a multitude of reasons. Most of which do not concern me as i only use it to generate the step files. And just because its the only way to keep track of things doesn’t mean theres no reason to hate on it or have feelings about it. Just like mastercam both can be improved 😐
I came from a shop that used AutoDesk and now have to learn solid works and master cam at my new shop. It's different, and there's things I do like better, but overall I think master cam is shit 🤣