Re: Software Costs

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

> Keith,
>
> 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 my main beef is that people are trying to tell me $300 is cheap
when to me that is not cheap.

As to software costs

I use TurboCad for CAD
Intend using Master 5 for Control.

If I pay 300$ for CAM then that puts the total cost around 500$.

Question: Why is CAM so much more expensive than CAD or CNC control
is it really that much more complicated that people need to charge 3
times the cost