CAM-TOOL Reviews

“made the machining process faster than ever”

Pros

With CAM-TOOL, we were able to optimize the machining process for manufacturing complex vehicle components like wheel hub assemblies. It helped us generate G-codes which honestly saved us a lot of time. The user interface is very easy to understand as well.

Cons

The only downside is that the software requires our systems to have high processing power and strong overall performance so it wont run on just anything.

“great for pcb analysis”

Pros

It does a great job with PCB design analysis especially when checking pad shorts and overlaps.

Cons

Everything works fine overall but a few scripting features aren't functioning properly.

“has reliable toolpaths and NC output”

Pros

Having multiple toolpath options is a big plus. The NC code comes out error free and the toolpath calculation is based on the actual surface, which makes the results more accurate and dependable.

Cons

A downside is that the stock files generated for every path can use up quite a bit of memory. Also turning operations on a lathe still require manual programming.

“delivers solid finishes for complex parts”

Pros

It delivers very precise and consistent results so you dont need to worry that much about human error with it. It's especially useful for producing complex or detailed parts efficiently and it also helps keep labor costs down. The button based workflow can feel a bit complicated at first but once you spend some time with it, it becomes more familiar and manageable.

Cons

The operating interface isn't very user friendly so it kind of hard to get used to it in the beginning. Since it's such a large and complex piece of software, the learning curve is steep and can be difficult to get through.

“faster mold machining results”

Pros

Compared with other CAM packages this feels like a real step up for mold and die work. It has cut down both my programming time and machining time and it also gave us the confidence to run lights out hard milling on our molds. The simultaneous 5 axis functions are much quicker to pick up than in a lot of other software, which made training and day to day use a lot easier. On top of that the support team answers questions quickly and gives the kind of help you actually need to keep the job moving.

Cons

Only slight drawback is that you need a high end computer with lots of memory and processing power to use this software. But most CAM systems need that anyways so there isn't anything better out there.

“very dependable software”

Pros

Accurate toolpaths and dependable performance have helped extend tool life quite a bit. It's also fast and gives us the ability to machine hardened steel effectively which has been a big plus.

Cons

It takes a while to get comfortable using it because its not very user friendly. It also lacks a SolidWorks translator and there's no Wire EDM module included.

“beats out every other software”

Pros

This has become our first choice for small to mid-sized mold components. We haven't seen other software match its performance when machining hard materials or handling intricate details and deep ribs. Since moving to CAMTOOL, both tool life and surface finish have improved a lot. The stock model feature cuts down wasted motion and unnecessary air cutting which makes the process go by much faster and easier. It's also very convenient for re machining because the software accurately identifies only the areas that still need to be cut. Another big advantage is being able to use the same diameter cutter with different lengths to reach deeper sections like ribs. CAMTOOL automatically builds the toolpath around the tool length and removes any unnecessary paths for the longer tools so more material can be cut with the shorter, more rigid cutter. On top of that the software continues to get better with regular upgrades, added features and usability improvements. Local support has also been very helpful, whether it's troubleshooting issues or training both new and current users.

Cons

If I had to say something negative then maybe a few of the simpler 2D toolpaths can take longer to set up than they do in some other software. That said, once the workflow becomes familiar, it's really not much of an issue.

“precise die mold paths”

Pros

After using this for more than a decade I can say it produces highly accurate, clean die and mold tool paths with impressive efficiency. Its honestly helped me save so much time. It calculates directly from the actual surface instead of relying on polygon-based rendering that usually needs extra tweaking to remove bumps and get the finish right. I've tested other die/mold CAM systems on the same work and jobs that took them hours to process were completed by CAM Tool in just minutes. Ive also rarely needed to edit any NC code which says a lot about how reliable the output is. Another big advantage is that it can calculate up to eight separate tool paths at the same time. Since most of those paths aren't dependent on earlier ones, there's usually no need to recalculate later strategies. On top of that it rarely ever crashes.

Cons

One limitation is that CAM-Tool is built strictly for milling machines so you can't really use it for everything. If you need to handle lathe work, the turning operations have to be programmed manually or created in a different CAM package. It's also more oriented toward smaller parts so rendering very large parts can take quite a while which is a bit frustrating at times. Another downside is that it creates a stock model for every optimized tool path and those stock files can pile up fast and consume a lot of hard drive space.

“fast output but cluttered layout”

Pros

Speed is where this software really delivers. It's incredibly fast and if quick work matters to you, it's worth considering.

Cons

The design feels very old-fashioned and the color choices come across as low quality. The contrast also needs improvement. Plus having so many buttons visible from the start can be confusing for new users. Even though people can eventually adapt to it it still makes the learning process slower and harder to grasp at the beginning.

“excellent tool”

Pros

The properties and tools are pretty simple so it's easy to understand how everything works.

Cons

I haven't run into any real drawbacks since the operations are very clear and the software is easy to understand.