Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Maxnc - don't buy it!

Mike,

Much as many here don't like the closed nature of the hardware, I have
to say Flashcut is a really decent total package. It's not the cheapest
however.
Several years ago I was involved in rapid turnaround prototyping of
surgical devices, mostly making parts from various plastics. The fellow
I was doing the parts for was also small and frugal (broke...).
We both needed CNC, but couldn't afford big iron. I spotted the MaxNC
soon after it came out and he bought one right away, then bought another
for me. (well, financed it for me really).
We quickly discovered the limitations of the hardware/software.
By then I'd found Flashcut, and he promptly bought a full setup.
Feeling this had more potential, he tried to take the hardware as far as
possible. We both worked on a lot of mechanical improvements to the
Sherline, and Flashcut displayed the 2nd one we designed (and I built)
at a machine tool show in Santa Clara. This machine, with major
tweaking, has turned out parts just as accurate as a full machining
center, producing full 3D contoured parts in various plastics.
It was a lot of work, and really the two biggest advantages were it
ended up costing less than a Mori Seki, and it took up a lot less room.
(these medical parts were machined on the deck of a 2nd story apartment
in Palo Alto, neighbors never knew a thing!)
So, Flashcut is certainly capable. Ron Worth will answer questions, and
they are further developing both the software and hardware.
Documentation is near state of the art for hobby level CNC.
Call or visit their website and request a demo, if they still have them
available. I really don't know the cost, but software/hardware is
probably going to run something under $2k.
If that's too steep, I can also recommend Ahha. Documentation isn't laid
out in the most logical fashion, but I've only had to call for help
once. It's reliable and has some nice features, though it really hacks
me off that the $500 version doesn't include single block execution (one
line at a time), you have to buy the $1100 version for that. Lack of
MDI, or command line input is also a pain since I'm used to having it.
Those are features even MaxNC is able to implement in their software. I
doubt Ahha will do anything about this, and in fact, they don't seem to
be doing much in the way of development.
That's more than .02 worth....

Jon