So who has used Vectric Cut 2D and Cut 3D and other software besides the free trial and how do you like it, are you still using it and is it a good buy, i like designing in Autocad so it is easy to use with my DXF files and what is it good at and what can it not do that you feel it needs or is lacking in?

What about VcarvePro and Aspire, they are getting pricey are they worth it? or as a hobbyist would I be quite happy with Cut 2d or Cut 3d for making small presents or Model Boats and Planes...

HELP!

Bryan

I think Vetric makes good stuff. That being said they hobbled Cut2D by not supporting tool changes. To work around that you have to save each set of operations for each tool as a different file. Quite a PITA if you ask me. All of their higher end products do not do this.

I have access to a few high end CAM packages at work (SurfCAM and MasterCAM), but I kept getting this same question from folks. I spent a few months trying out various CAM applications trying to find a good, 'hobbyist' priced product that did a good job in both 2D and 3D work. What I found that gave the best bang for the buck was CamBam: http://www.cambam.co.uk/. You can download the free version or a trial of the full version and try it.

While it's CAD capabilities are limited they are much easier to use than those in most 'high end' CAM systems. The CAM works great and their use of 'MOPS' (basically templates for your machining parameters), make laying out tool paths very quick. I was happy enough with it to offer it for sale on my site:http://soigeneris.com/software.aspx.

Now if your after a great 'WYSIWYG' CAD/CAM then Aspire or VCarvePro are great products but they do carry a matching price tag.

Jeff I need a little help when I go to your site I get it seems only half the page loading ie on the software page I get the Mach3 and Lazy cam side but the Cambam I get only up to the first 1" or so of the writing. The same is true on other pages like accessories and cutters, is there a setting I need to adjust on my Firefox browser? It is at full screen and your pages are not being constrained by that as they are centered in this space and have lots of room around them (left-right) and there is no slider bar at the bottom to enable me to get to the missing right side.

Thanks

Bryan

Sorry it is not working for you. I have tested it with FireFox 3.03 and it appears fine. I have had similar reports from folks with FireFox but I can't duplicate it here. I'm slowly going through things and making sure that everything is HTML4 compliant which may help.

Can you send me a note at birt_j@soigeneris.com and give me the specifics of your OS, FireFox version and any plug-ins you have installed. I'll try to recreate the problem here.

Thanks for letting me know.

Hi Bryan,

I used Cut 2D and liked it so much I moved up to VCarve Pro

Seriously, I moved up the VCarve because I wanted more of the features that were offered but if you're just doing gifts and odd machine jobs, you should try the free programs as maybe one of them will "agree" with you. I tried MANY programs and I just hated all the quirks and bugs and it just frustrated me to try and learn "work-arounds" for them. I wanted to make parts NOW, not take eons to learn a new software...

When I bought Cut2D it was $159 and it was the best money I had invested in machine software, next to Mach 3. It is truly a simple program with great results and their documentation and their help forum is just incredible with friendly people with fast answers.

I believe Brian (the admin here) has tried Cut3D and had really good things to say about that as well.

Good luck-
Dave

I have Firefox also and can browse Jeffs site with no Problems...

Bryan as you know I have played with Cut 3d and its a neat Software,Very simple to use ..

3D parts take hours to run though so be prepared....also make sure your flute length on the Tool you will be using is Long enough to reach the Deep cuts....

Have Fun and make sure to post some pics of your work

I'm glad you got rid of the lost steps and are able to make some chips now.

I would recommend not trying to use a vise with thin stock that you are cutting so much out of. AS the pressure in the wood is relieved it will compress and pinch the bit. It would be better to mount a sacrificial board to your table and mount the thin plywood flat to that. With a 1/8" bit you should be able to cut that in a single pass. On another CNC machine I have (with a 23K RPM spindle) I can cut a 1" single pass with a 1/8" carbide tool.

If your going to be cutting a lot of aircraft plywood and balsa you should look for some good quality 1/16" carbide bits. I sell a few that work really good for balsa and aircraft plywood, you might be able to find some locally as well. I hesitate to provide you with another link to my site since your having problems viewing it, but: http://soigeneris.com/PreciseBitsCarving.aspx. The down cut has a more limited DOC (depth of cut) but because it pushes the chips downward it can keep thin stock from vibrating.