Re: open source CAM

[Paul Corner <paul.corner-at-tesco.net>]

Hi Dan

There is certainly a need for a fast and efficient library to handle an EMC
backplotter. From what I've seen of the lastest 3D plotter, tcl/tk prevents
"real time" manipulation of the image. Partly to do with the tcl interpreter
overhead, and also the data storage. But then, 3D imaging is a very maths
intensive application regardless of the language it is written in. All of the
3D games I've seen use simple polygons to build up the view - EMC is capable
of generating masses of coordinates in six axis, the bulk of which, need to be
resolved. Reducing straight line moves in the X Y Z planes to two coordinates,
and decreasing the resolution for circular moves helps to improve the speed.
But without using CAD/CAM orientated libraries as opposed to 3D games
libraries, the speed issue will still be a major stumbling block.
IF this opensource Cascade is as good as it looks - I shall certainly have a
good look at it. I see they have a UK office for the CD, so it looks like I'll
be ordering one tommorrow (the downloads are too bloated for my connection).

Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

 Regards, Paul.


On Wed, 08 Nov 2000, Dan Falck wrote:
> I hope that my thoughts don't sound too strange for the list....
> Every week, I usually call Ray and talk to him for about an hour, about EMC 
> and CAD/CAM related things.  This week we were discussing probing, open 
> source vs MS, Tcl/Tk windows terminals,  

Currently, there is an open source effort 
> at www.opencascade.org and www.opencascade.com that is building the 
> framework for opensource CAD/CAM.  Right now there are only a couple demos 
> using the opencascade libraries, but they are encouraging.  My thoughts are 
> that the opencascade libraries could be used in the EMC backplot program to 
> create a small CAM program to go along with EMC.