Many small shops such as yours have debated whether to move to a fully integrated CAM system. The primary benefit is that all of the tooling is created from one single database. This makes it easier for controlling pre-production setup, archiving, and maintaining a centralized database. The more sophisticated CAM systems are typically UNIX based because it is a multi-tasking operating system and offers the power and flexibility that DOS and Windows does not have. With the advent of NT, this may change. One particular system that has made tremendous headway in the industry of late is Valor's Genesis CAM product. It is extremely powerful and fully customizable to match your production parameters thereby enhancing your tooling quality and cycle time. To answer your questions more specifically: A high-end CAM system such as Genesis has a longer learning curve than a PC based system. Primarily because there is more functionality and flexibility. However, it is extremely easy to use because the system can be customized and in many cases automated for routine functions. Every job through the system can be setup with the same steps. Genesis is an extremely powerful system capable of not only detecting deisgn rule violations but also provideing a histogram of the DRC results to help you determine the level of difficulty in producing the board. This allows you to predict, to some accuracy, the yield you can expect out in the shop. There are also functions to help enhance the manufacturability of the board to increase yield as well as cycle time. And finally, money invested on improving your pre-production process can have high returns through improved yields, reduced cycle time and enhancing the value of the boards you ship. George Murray ---------- From: TechNet-request To: TechNet Subject: Request comments on choosing CAM for our shop! Date: Monday, July 01, 1996 11:40AM We are a small shop (<40 employees) which regularly manufactures Mil-spec boards of up to 16 layers. About half of our tooling is supplied to us as artwork only, the other half includes data as well (Gerber and/or drill). Presently, we are using the Lavenir View+386 for our artwork editing and panelization needs, and FasTechnologies NCCAM for drill and rout editing. We are considering the purchase of an integrated CAM system, such as the one sold by Orbotech. I would like to solicit any comments on that system or any other that you are using - unfortunately, I haven't seen many in action, so I don't know the right questions to ask! Some that come to mind: * Easy to learn? * Easy to use? * Powerful? Can it flag potential problem areas? * Cost to benefit ratio. I'd appreciate any help you can give me in making this decision!