RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Am I missing something?

John:

I think the piece that you missed is that the software does not come for
free. Writing it and supporting it can cost a pretty penny. I don't know
anything about either the quality of their package or the number which
they've sold. But, I have written custom software for process control and
can attest to the amount of time it takes to build a functioning system.
Mine were for in-house control systems, so I didn't have the added costs of
supporting customers who didn't really know how to use the stuff I wrote.

-- Carol & Jerry Jankura
Strongsville, Ohio
So many toys, so little time



-----Original Message-----
From: info.host@... [mailto:info.host@...]
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 8:16 PM
To: caD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Am I missing something?


Hi all,

I'm curious as to where I'm making the mistake here. I have spoken to
FlashCut a few times and was considered buying their cnc controls for a
Sherline I may have in the future. I picked them out initially because their
site looked like what I'd be getting would be good quality but they have
quoted $1895 for their kit. That does not include the mounts which are an
extra $200. With that you get the FlashCut software, the signal generator,
the three steppers (@135oz/in), the driver and all the bits like a manual
and the cables. The driving system puts out 2 amps per axis, I don't think
they mention steps per revolution or anything to do with that. But I can buy
the steppers for say $150 each, that's $450 for all three. Buy their mounts
for $200 to make it $650. Then I could buy a GeckoDrive G201A for $149 and
it'd be $800. That must then make the cables, manual and controller worth
$1095. How much would a controller to suit this sort of thing cost? Or have
I made some massive mistake somewhere. Their packaged also includes the
FlashCut software. I'm pretty new to CNC so if anything seems strange it's
proberly wrong.

Thanks in advance,
John H.