Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Looking back on 2002

Your right Tom, big changes that is for sure.
I was just thinking the same thing a few days ago when I sent off my
$100 for Mach1. I recall just how challenging and Costly building a
"hobby" machine was back in late '97. Your options were nothing like
now. The very cheapest ( and they worked Cheap too) off the shelf
microstepping Drivers were $199. PC based Controls didn't know what
"continuous contouring" even was, but it still costed you at least $1000
for anything halfways decent. CAM ? $3500 if you refused to work with
BobCad Gold. We sure didn't have any CNC surplus offered on E-Bay !

Some of this years offers are incredible. Working CNC Controls for $100
that people enjoy using ?!!! C'mon !! Thats unreal !

The only thing I am still waiting for is some of the cheap Foreign
"Knock-Off" Linear Rail and bearings to make their entrance. It might be
that "Knock-offs" could be plenty accurate for hobby machines....
though, One might want to scrub off that "hammered" green paint they
splatter on everything :-)

Yep, Linear components. They are the real "Pain in the wallet" for the
guy who wants to have a little accuracy.

Chris L

thomasm923@... wrote:

>Consider this:
>
>Surfcam 2d Free
>VisualMill V3 Free
>VisualMill V4 < $1000 USD
>VisualMill V4 w/Rhino, Alibre, or Inovate < $1600 USD
>Mach1 $150 USD
>DeskCNC w/controller (limited time offer) $300
>Mariss's low cost Gecko 2002 "black box" in the works
>VectorCam w/nurbs option
>etc...
>
>Interesting times for CNC enthusiasts!
>
>-Tom Murray
>
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