Welcome to the Onshape forum! Ask questions and join in the discussions about everything Onshape.
First time visiting? Here are some places to start:- Looking for a certain topic? Check out the categories filter or use Search (upper right).
- Need support? Ask a question to our Community Support category.
- Please submit support tickets for bugs but you can request improvements in the Product Feedback category.
- Be respectful, on topic and if you see a problem, Flag it.
If you would like to contact our Community Manager personally, feel free to send a private message or an email.
Onshape "Partners" and the Onshape APIs
Hello - I've been told that our company is now a 'partner' of Onshape - I understand that it is because our CAM product can import the file formats that Onshape can export to.
That's great...but what about the possibility of a more direct integration.
What APIs are available and how can I start learning about them?
Thanks in advance,
Pete
That's great...but what about the possibility of a more direct integration.
What APIs are available and how can I start learning about them?
Thanks in advance,
Pete
0
Answers
May I ask which of our partner companies you are with?
Jon
Here's why:
- Our cnc machines have a lot of special drills inside and most of cams try to create also special holes with a router (reason might be that I haven't ever seen european woodworking machines listed in machines inside cam)
- We have currently just 3 and 4ax machines, programming is way faster than modeling with any cad.
- I like to use local/global/environmental variables of the cnc machines for easy program update and parametric behavior.
- I like to create cnc programs with 'design intent' so that other users (or me after a year) can see why things are the way they are (for example visible equations in hole placement).
- I'm sometimes even importing dxf from cnc to cad for fast & accurate models
- For milling complex shapes I can just import dxf and set correct tool and depth in 30 sec.
I'm sure all these things can be worked out with some advanced settings in perfect cam but for my simple 3 or 4 ax machining it's just faster to create programs with integrated editors.
-1 for integrated 'always on your face' CAM (don't shoot me, it's just my opinion .. at the moment)
I can't speak to conversational CNC as I have never used it. I also like to use parameter driven gcode files, but these things don't have anything to do with this thread!
Yes, I understand what integration means, it's just that good and deep integration goes into RMB menus and appears in many stages of design process. What I ment is not to think cam is the only output for manufactured models.
We might get into interesting conversation as we are both into machining stuff though you are (if I understood correctly) cam/gcode man and I have seen gcode only couple of times (during 20 years) using purely simple dialog-wizard based cad / converters built in cnc software.
I'm not the one who vote you down since I'm wide open for new ideas and like to hear other approach than my own.
Have you tried Top solid? (I haven't, just would like to know if it's any good)
I imagine CAM in Onshape being another tab. In the same way that an assembly has a unique tool set when compared to a Part Studio, a CAM Setup would be unique as well.