Re: Software Costs

Keith,

In the race to the bottom you only get what you pay for.
Fresh oats you get top price for, If you want them from the other end
of the horse then both price and quality are lower.
Just don't expect to win any races with a clapped out Ford Escort.
Everytime it breaks down remember it's only a hobby.

John S.

>

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Alan Marconett KM6VV
<KM6VV@a...> wrote:

> Then you might consider a low cost ($35?) CAD-only version of Vector
> CAD/CAM (or a a FREE IntelliCad), and use a FREE ACE converter from
> CNCPro (Yeager). The demo of FlashCut can also convert DXF files,

as

> has been mentioned many times on this list.
>
> A "hobby" mill or lathe will cost $400-500, motors, drivers and a

power

> supply may be another $500 or so. Therefore, if one wishes to

assemble

> a "well proportioned" set of "hobby CNC tools", then another $300

for

> the software seems reasonable to me.
>
> Sorta like an old adage, don't put $10 speakers on a $1000 stereo!
>
> I go along with Tim's comments!
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
>
> Keith Sloan wrote:
> >
> > > Subject: RE: Software Costs
> > >
> > > This is a discussion that has come up many times. Just because

it is for

> > > a hobby and no money is being made does not mean that free or

low cost

> > > software has to be used. From having participated in this list

for many

> > > years what I see is that when many people start out they want

to put

> > > together a machine for as close to zero $$ as they can. They

frequently

> > > use free software and can not see themselves spending the price

of even

> > > the low cost packages. But as they start using the items they

start

> > > looking for more feature rich solutions and frequently will buy

a

> > > package like Vector or Dolphin or even Visual Mill. I think you

would be

> > > surprised at the number of hobby users that have spent $500 or

more to

> > > get good CAD CAM software.
> > >
> > > This is an expensive hobby and good tools (both software and

hardware)

> > > are not cheap. But they make the user more productive and give

a greatly

> > > expanded ability. My suggestion from having use the free/low

cost

> > > solutions and using much more expensive solutions is to buy a

good

> > > CAD/CAM package right from the beginning. You will be using it

a lot and

> > > it will determine much of your capabilities.
> > >
> > > Tim
> > > [Denver, CO]
> > > Sherline products at Deep Discount
> > > Mach1 & DeskCNC with credit card ordering
> > > www.KTMarketing.com/Sherline
> > > Now selling Visual Mill
> > >
> >
> > Well I am sure there are hobbyists that can afford these prices,

but there

> > are a LOT who cannot.
> > It just annoys that when somebody say they are looking for

cheap/free

> > software people barge in with
> > software that costs 300-500 dollars. I just wish they would state

for the

> > serious hobbyist
> > rather than assume we all have money to burn.
> >
> > There is a large gap between 0 and 300 dollars, its a shame

nobody sees fit

> > to fill the gap.
> > Software like Eagle for PCB's is much better priced, its free

with a lot of

> > restrictions, Hobby use means reasonably
> > priced for some restrictions and has an expensive option for

those who need

> > it.
> >
> > IMHO CAM software providers could learn a lot from their

experience.

> >