I think the reason that nobody has done your test (except Seymour) is that "populating the program with tools" is a step/process that is unique to Gibbs. Different CAM systems have different philosphies about how/when tools should be selected.

CC:

I now believe that is precisely the case. And that you've hit the nail on the head.

SOOOO, to do a direct comparison between various CAM systems, I think a part needs to be presented to be machined so that the various systems are able to use their features & strengths without restriction. Something simple that would take just few minutes of time to program. So it wouldn't be an onerous task, yet be a valid comparison (at least for the part in question).

I'll give it some thought.

--
BottleBob
http://home.earthlink.net/~bottlbob

I'd be up for a little programming challenge. It would be cool to see how different cam systems perform with someone that's experienced with them.

I tried it in Esprit 2007. It took me 44 seconds to define one new tool. That includes selecting the color I want the tool to simulate with and typing is a short tool comment.
To pull 10 tools into a program took me 15 seconds. Once created, I save all my tools in a tool folder, so that 15 seconds includes opening the folder (I usually just keep it open when I am programming) selecting the 10 tools the just dragging them onto the tool tab of the file I am working on.
It is even faster if I save a tool group (like centerdrill, drill, countersink and tap) in one file. When I drag and drop that file to the tool tab I get all four tools at once.

Dan

Esprit 2010 now has a tool selection button that opens the Cutter Database inside the process manager. So now to select tool(s) you can use a machine template, or preselect the tools as Dan mentioned, or select a tool on the fly inside the process manager. In addition if you are using the full knowledge base the software will select the tool and process for defined features and load them in milliseconds. (The knowledge base does require a substantial man hour commitment to define your processes and tooling.) I guess the point is loading predefined tools doesn't make for much of a contest.

In GibbsCam, you don't need an extensive tool library because you can create tools on the fly.

In your tool set up list you can select a 3.5 inch face mill, tell the tool list it has 5 inserts, and a .030 radios and the max. depth of cut. It's SO easy, you don't need a extensive tool library.

Pro/NC is easy to make tools on the fly. Drop down menu to choose tool type, adjust size/flute numbers, then choose position. done.

In surfcam you can save tools and their all the parameters you set for it.

For example, I've got a 1/4 engraving tool saved. Tool number, RPM, FEED, DOC, rapid plane, clearance plane and various other settings are all saved. I just select this tool, select the tool path and I'm done.

You can save any tool with any name you like. You can have a million of these custom set ups and they make it easy to sort them. For example, you could sort by material and only show your custom tools for cutting stainless. You can also store these custom tool libraries on a network and have them available to any programmer.

Take a look at the following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQaAZdjXa50

The tool list is created with the operations between 1:14 to 1:16 (2 seconds). A completed tool list is shown at 1:50. The entire part is programmed in 2:53.

I use NX6 an it took about 1.5 min to create the tools from scratch.
To retrieve them from the library about 30 seconds.
To pull them in from a temaplate about 2 seconds

It depends on the way you want to retrieve / create the tools.

Setting the Speeds and feed is automatic once you have the machining data setup.