Anybody doing EDM electrode design for molds in Solidworks ?

Using Cadkey 19 now , with 21.5 as an option. Thinking about switching to
Solidworks. I just do EDM electrode design, from surfaced mold parting line
files. I wonder if I would be just switching from one bug filled software
to another one ?

Thanks

Zig

 

I'd like to know more about this topic, your problems, needs and wishes
(e-mail me please)
I was employed 5 years at Charmilles Technologies, located 5 mins. by foot
from here...
Still trying to convince them to put some money in "automatic" die-sinking
electrode design tools...

 

For EDM design, SW is sometimes brilliant and sometimes kind of
frustrating. When its brilliant, I'm done a complex EDM model in
literally minutes. At the other extreme, it might take a few hours, but
overall for complex parts, it should be a huge improvement over Cadkey.

The area where SW is least suited for this type of design is accounting
for spark gap and orbit. Fortunately we have decent CNC software that
can handle this.

-g-

 

You're correct in the bug filled comment. Although, I'd guess SWX is still leaps and bounds ahead of Cadkey now. I'm a
Cadkey convert from back in 94-95. I switched to SWX and never looked back.
I'd say the only problem you'll have with trode design in SWX will be in offsetting your spark gap. Depending on the
complexity of the surfaces, it can be frustrating at times.

M.T.