UG vs. Pro-E CAM Dilema

[bigdavej]

Hello all,

I would like to learn more about Pro-E CAM, but first a little background:

Our company is a large job shop currently using Unigraphics to create CNC toolpath driven by customer furnished models. Many of our programs contain complex 5-axis moves such as contouring and profiling, etc. for which Unigraphics does quite well. We usually get models from the customer and bring them in as .stp files which also works well as the models alomost never change so associativity to the customer's master model is not that important.

Now the problem and some questions:

Now we have just won a large quantity of different part numbers from a new customer. These models will be Pro-E models when we get them. The kicker is this: The customer says that we can expect changes to some of these models after we get them and possibly some changes after the parts are even programmed. The shipping schedule for this contract is very tight and we are to get our first models early to the middle of next year.

We have a small group of Pro-E designers in another department that is trying to sell management on doing the CNC programming in Pro-E which would make sense since our models will be Pro-E models. But tell me if I am right or wrong. Isn't Pro-E CAM still in its infacy? It's my understanding that their CAM package has not been around very long. Is Pro-E CAM capable of doing the 5-axis work that we would need it to do? Would their CAM system be compatable to our posts, or would we have to go through the task of building new ones? What would the learning curve be like? Would we have time to get a new system in place in a few months? Our schedule is so tight that these parts really need to come off of the machine right the first time if possible.

We know that Pro-E will roll with the changes of the master models better, but we are worried that the learning curve may give us trouble. We already have Unigraphics CAM in place, are proficient using it, and our posts are good.

Thoughts?

 

[looslib]

Myth Busting time:
Pro/E CAM can do 5-axis machining
Pro/E CAM is not in its infancy, just not as old as UG CAM

Questions:
What version iof UG?
What version of Pro/E?
What do you use for posts? UG/Post, GPM, ICAM, etc??

Yes, you will have a learning curve.
The associativity factor between model and manufacturing part files is very beneficial. It still has to be managed properly or it won't work. If the part designers delete and add new features, the manufacturing side will go crazy. This is true for both UG and Pro/E. Edits need to be made as edits of the existing features.

Good Luck.
We have been a UG shop since 1987 and are moving to Pro/E by corporate decree. We will start looking at CAM things next year.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
"Fixed in the next release" should replace "Product First" as the PTC slogan.

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

 

[bigdavej]

Thanks for the reply Ben,

Good to know that Pro-E CAM has been around awhile. I was under the impression that it was still in the early phases.

We are currently using UG NX3

I think we are also using Pro-E Wildfire though I'm not 100% sure and don't know which version.

We use a combination of UG/Post, Intercim, and GPM for different machines though we would like to eventually get good UG posts for all the machines.

You make a good point about addition and deletion of features.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who has had some experience with Pro-E CAM (Tales of success or horror stories).

Thanks for the reply and good luck with your transition as well.

Dave