RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Flashcut

Andrew,

I agree that in some cases having a system that is plug and play is
worth additional money. But with the advent of this group and a number
of new products in the past couple of years rolling your own is no
longer a cobble it together and hope experience. We can now point a
beginner to a list of off the shelf products that will work together
perfectly on the first try. I think you will be seeing in the next year
or so more turn key type solutions coming onto the market. I would not
be surprised if within a year you don't see a 2.5 amp drive all set up
on a box along with a windows based controller and the matching motors
for about half of Flashcut. It is almost there. Dan at Camtronics is
offering a 2.5 amp drive in a box complete with the power supply. He
will also set you up with motors. Mach1 will soon have all the features
of Flashcut and more. Deskam has the DeskWinNC controller that gives you
solid performance on any Windows platform. All it will take is some
enterprising individual to put is all together. If I was Flashcut I
would either be trying to move more to the segment that is willing to
pay for turn key or trying to figure out how to compete with the coming
wave of lower cost hobby CNC.

Tim
[Denver CO]

> -----Original Message-----
> [In fairness to Flashcut, they offer a turnkey system that
> they take full responsibility for. Certainly it's now
> possible to cobble together a system by getting a controller
> from one guy, scrounging some surplus motors, adding a
> software control program from someone else, then make them
> all work together.
>
> But if something goes wrong, it will be difficult to figure
> out whose component is at fault. When you get a Flashcut
> system, they supply the controller, the software, and the
> motors (or the whole machine), so when you call their tech
> support department the person who answers won't be tempted to
> pass the buck. For a hobbyist, it may be worthwhile to save
> every penny possible, and to regard every setback as a
> learning experience. For someone who is getting paid to
> produce a product and has less tolerance for error and delay,
> it may well be worthwhile to pay a bit more and be assured
> that the system will actually function as specified. Flashcut
> has been around for a long time, and their systems really
> work. While they are no longer the cheapest option, they are
> far from the worst way to go.]
>
> Andrew Werby
> www.computersculpture.com