Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Software Costs

>> 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]
>
>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.

You know, while I can't say that I disagree that there seems to be a lack
of options in the $0-300 range, and I also can't say that I disagree that
the vendors on the list are very quick to offer, what you and I both
consider 'expensive' options, it seems like you're whining because other
people don't want to work for free, or close to free, to support *your*
hobby. Just because you have a hobby which doesn't take in money, or make
money, doesn't mean that anyone else is obligated to support it!
Comparing CAD/CAM software to PCB software doesn't seem quite accurate as
the 'full' versions of PCB packages seem to be less expensive than
comparable CAD/CAM packages.

If you think there is a great market in that price range, there is
certainly nothing preventing you from coming out with the $99
"KeithSloanCAD/CAM" package. On the bright side, you have almost no
competition! On the downside, it doesn't seem like anyone else feels that
they can make money doing it... Of course, everyone else could be wrong.

That said, if you do come out with a $99 CAM program that can import DXF
files and output G-Code, I'm sure that there are plenty of buyers out
there. Whether or not you'd ever recoup your development costs, I have no
idea.

VisualMill Basic would be a nice solution, but not at $550, and since the
demo doesn't output G-Code, I can't tell if it is actually doing what I
want! VisualMill 3.0 (Free) seems to have disappeared and was not, in my
opinion, very useful without dxf import.. DesKam is probably usable, at
$250 it is even close to a reasonable price point. Unfortunately there
seems to be a lack of documentation.

After trying half a dozen demos and becoming very frustrated with what I
consider really poor interfaces for the less expensive ones, I decided
that, for my hobby use, I'm probably better off writing G-Code by hand.

--C.S.