I have been reading the postings on CAD programs with interest. I
was recently told that most CAD/CAM programs are best run on PC’s
not MAC’s. Since computers are by no means my strong suit, can any
of you more knowledgeable folks weigh in with an opinion on this.
I know MAC’s dominate the graphic design business, but this guy ( he
was retouching a photo of my work on a MAC at a photo lab ) said
PC’s dominate the CAD/CAM world.
Thanks,
Don Friedlich
Don, MAC’s no longer “dominate” anything PC’s are fater for the
price and f ar more programs are written for the PC than for the MAC
Most CAD programs are written for the PC because there is a MUCH
larger user base available as potential customers I use Matrix from
gemvision (wwwgemvisioncom) and it was written in Win 2000, also runs
on XP, but not on MAC
Wayne
Don, There are a couple of CAD programs that run on the Mac
VectorWorks ( http://www.nemetschek.net/ ) and Form Z (
http://formz.com/ )are two that I have and both can be used to
create designs that can be exported to various CNC machining tools
and rapid prototyping systems. Any modeling you can do in Rhino or
other CAD programs can be done in these programs. All CAD programs
have fairly steep learning curves so be prepared to spend quite a
bit of time learning any them.
Jim
does anyone out there using CAD programs use, or know of program
software compatible with Mac systems? thanks ahead!
fusion studio
http://www3.telus.net/andescruzminer
Form Z…it is used for architecture but can do 3d modeling. But in
reality PC is 3D and Mac is 2D!
Sue Ann Dorman
On my Mac I have been using VectorWorks for quite a few years now.
It is a 2D & 3D CAD program that can output files in the STL format
used by the various model making machines. I routinely have models
made from my designs on a couple of different types of machine. To
see more on VectorWorks go to
http://www.nemetschek.net/vectorworks/
BTW it is also available on the PC for all of you folks who are
stuck with the Wintel boxes 
Jim Binnion James Binnion Metal Arts Phone (360) 756-6550 Toll Free
(877) 408 7287 Fax (360) 756-2160 http://www.mokume-gane.com
@James_Binnion Member of the Better Business Bureau
Get ‘Virtual PC’, then you can run whatever you want. Good luck!
Cheers,
Kim
There is a smallCAD-thing called MacCad. I think its free, or almost
free. But for jewellry, don`t forget Adobe Illustrator and Adobe
Photoshop, you can do amazing things… As a Mac user I think you
are both crative and can use the facilities of those programs and the
machine. You can make patterns for fill, lines, backgrounds, in the
toolboxes for these, and make imagines of 3D, no problem. There are a
few filigree things like this on my homepage. Oh, I miss my old
Mac… the PC is not close to the flexibility!
Form Z..it is used for architecture but can do 3d modeling. But in reality PC is 3D and Mac is 2D!
There are several good professional Mac 3D packages formZ is just
one. These programs include Amapi, Carrara Studio 3, Cinema4D,
VectorWorks. Just because you are not familiar with these
applications does not mean that the Mac is not a viable professional
3D platform.
Jim Binnion James Binnion Metal Arts Phone (360) 756-6550 Toll Free
(877) 408 7287 Fax (360) 756-2160 http://www.mokume-gane.com
@James_Binnion Member of the Better Business Bureau
James, I teach in the ART dept at a University and it is totally Mac
based. The problem with Mac programs is that the modeling program is
designed for illustration and animation.
When you go to transfer the file to the slicing software for Rapid
Prototyping the geometric configurations are not complete and some
layers will not registrar.
It can be done on Mac software but I have seen designs rejected from
mac software for this reason.
Sue Ann Dorman
P.O. Box 110201
Marina Del Rey, CA 90295
@Sue_Dorman
www.suedorman.com
Aloha, I have to agree with James on this. There are several viable
3D programs for 3D design on the MAC platform. Where the problem is,
is in the CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) portion of the
equation, if you want to do it (manufacture it yourself). For print,
digital media and graphics MAC is the way to go. (even MAYA and
other high end 3D animation packages are now ported to MAC) To
produce it, you need a Winblows box. Sorry it’s the math, it’s just
the way it is. Hopefully, eventually the tech goes full circle, as
UNIX is a far better solution. The dual G5 rocks. But, there are
more users on the windows platform so, developers go to where the
money is. There are only a few CNC programs for the MAC, I can count
them on one hand. STL output, for a 3D printer is another story, you
can design it on a MAC, but the 3D printer itself, runs in Windows.
Just to let you know.
Best regards,
Christian Grunewald
Applications/Technical Representative for Model Master
(808) 622-9005
Hi Christian,
While most solutions for small scale CAM are indeed Wintel based
there is a relatively new Linux based solution that is free. It is
called EMC (Enhanced Machine Controller ) and is an open source
(free) CAM package . Sherline is using EMC running on a Intel box
to control their new CNC mill and lathe.
The newest Mac OS (OS X) is based on BSD and is able to run Linux
programs. It would require lots of tinkering but there is no reason
you could not run the CNC machines via a Mac. Is it a easy task ? No
probably not and if you want to do CNC work rather than tinker with
code then it is not such a good idea but some propeller head will
eventually port it to a Mac just to show it can be done 
Jim Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160
@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau
I teach in the ART dept at a University and it is totally Mac based. The problem with Mac programs is that the modeling program is designed for illustration and animation. When you go to transfer the file to the slicing software for Rapid Prototyping the geometric configurations are not complete and some layers will not registrar. It can be done on Mac software but I have seen designs rejected from mac software for this reason.
Sue Ann I work in a real world jewelry studio not the university and
my livelihood is dependant on getting my work done quickly and
correctly. I regularly have models grown from my Vectorworks files
and have never had one that had to be repaired because of or was
rejected for improper geometry. Vectorworks is a 3D CAD program not
a illustration program it works just fine for generating STL files
for 3D printing or CNC
Geometry problems are often operator problems rather than software
problems and can occur in any 3D modeling program.
Again just because you are not familiar with 3D CAD on the Mac does
not mean it does not work for generating useable model files.
Jim Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160
@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau