Eastwood Verda-cut software compatibility?

[Thunderbolt427]

New to plasma tables and Cnc in general.
So I bought the Eastwood Versa-cut 4x4 - complete setup with controller and plasma cutter. Works great so far with the preloaded shapes built into the controller. They recommend Autodesk Fusion 360 for the custom parts . Trying to figure out if this table will work with PlasmaCam software.

Here is Eastwoods specs: ( For the CAD/CAM we highly recommend Autodesk Fusion 360. It has design, and machine pathing all-in-one. You may also import and existing DXF/DWG/Solidworks or other common CAD files types if you just want to use it for the CAM (the table's computer itself only accepts post processed Gcode .cnc files). They have a free trial period and offer a free subscription for small businesses/start ups.

The post processor for Fusion 360 is the same one as our 55132 Elite table, download it here: https://www.eastwood.com/images/library ... wnload.cps

The only alternative I have tinkered with is SheetCAM. If you want to use that I can supply you a post processor for it. Just reach out to our technical support team and I can have them forward it to you. help@eastwood.com )

Now here is PlasmaCam software description :
Yes. Our DesignEdge software is so powerful, fast and easy to use that hundreds of customers buy it to design for and even program laser, water jet, and other plasma cutting machines. However it can’t directly run these machines the way you’ve seen PlasmaCAM machines run. You’ll still have to use your machine’s software that executes G-Code programs, and you won’t be able to change things on the fly. This, plus the fact that other plasma cutting machines can’t cut as fine of detail with the same speed and accuracy, makes customers often prefer the economics of reselling them—so they can get the full performance and streamlined operation of a PlasmaCAM system.

[weldguy]

You can use the Pcam software to design what you want but from there the process will be to save your design as a dxf file from Pcam then take that to Fusion or Sheetcam for post processing to create the gcode for your Eastwood table.

[Thunderbolt427]

Thank you so much for the response. If it were you would you just concentrate on learning the Fusion 360 and just use that or would you ever even consider the Plasmacam software at 4K just for their software.? I'm a mechanic and welder so CAD/CAM is very foreign to me which is why I was looking at a dedicated plasma software which is suppose to be fairly easy to use
Man , I wish someone made a really basic , simple plasma table only software for people like me. I'd pay a grand for it al day long.

[adbuch]

Thunderbolt - I have been using the Plasmacam Design Edge software for about 8 years now as that is what came with my Plasmacam table. Since you are just starting out - I would not recommend buying the Design Edge software at this time. Fusion 360 is free - and I would concentrate on learning it as you start your cnc plasma cutting journey. I personally use many different software programs - including Design Edge, Inkscape, Fusion 360, CorelDraw, and several others. For you mechanical parts - Fusion 360 will be great. Once you have completed your design, you can either save as dxf and do your cam/post processing with SheetCam (which is how I would probably do it) or do everything using Fusion 360.

It has been my personal experience that Fusion 360 often "hangs up" (ie. slows down) when creating complex cutting paths. This is most likely due to the fact that it is "cloud based" and relies on the Autodesk servers performance (or lack of performance). But for drawing purely mechanical parts - Fusion 360 is great.

If you were to purchase the Design Edge software, then I would recommend just buying one of their GoTorch tables for around $4k which includes the basic Design Edge software.

[urlhttps://www.gotorch.com/index.html][/url]

gotorch software.jpg

Then spend the additional $998 to upgrade to Advanced Design. So basically for an additional $1k you have a nice 2x2 table complete with controller, servo motors, etc. Design Edge will not run your Eastwood table - you can do all of your design with Design Edge and then export as dxf. Then import your dxf to SheetCam for your cam/post processing.

Langmuir has some great Fusion 360 tutorial videos pertaining to cnc plasma cutting.

https://www.langmuirsystems.com/software/fusion

For more artistic pieces - I would recommend Inkscape. It's free, quite powerful, and very easy to use. I often use Inkscape to create/edit artistic pieces, then save as dxf for import to Design Edge for cutting (since I have a Plasmacam table). Otherwise import your dxf file to SheetCam for your cam/post processing.

If you get into manual tracing of artistic parts - then CorelDraw has a very nice B-Spline tool which I much prefer to doing a manual trace with Inkscape. You can purchase CorelDraw at Amazon for just over $100.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XZ ... =UTF8&th=1

This is a one-time price for perpetual license with no monthly fees.

Let me know if you have any questions specific to any of these programs and I will do my best to answer them,

David

[Thunderbolt427]

Thanks

[Damo78]

Hi, I have a similar controller and having issues with a post processor for sheetcam, I have emailed you, cheers

[tcaudle]

The good news about SheetCAM is the POST is an open language (LUA) that is similar to BASIC and is easy to change and to edit a POST. There are over a hundred POSTs already for many different machines .

I know Fusion 360 is "Free" but you might want to read the license agreement if you have a business that sells stuff or charges labor and you use the software to design things for profit. The free version is a hobbyist version and its not just the money you make off items you used the software to make, its the total sales of your business . For a garage hobby guy it works . You do need to be aware you don't own your Fusion Files . While you can export in DXF but the master files stay in the cloud and you are limited under the hobby version to just a few master files at a time. The hobby license is good for one year and they REALLY wan t you to sign up for the paid version and renewing the license is not real easy.

Fusion360 is owned by AutoDesk and they did not get to be a HUGE company by giving software away. The ultimate goal is to get you hooked on the product and then "rent" you a copy. I can see if you make a living and have CNC machines (especially VMC's and CNC mills) that a subscription to a software package might make sense. It's real strength is 3D for things like 3D printing or machining parts on a mill. For 2D stuff a version of AutoCAD LT or something like the Pro version of ORCAD might be a better choice.

Inkscape is a very capable vector drawing program but its aimed at the world of Illustration and art and has a lot of tools you wont need for plasma cutting. especially simple parts . Like everything, there is a learning curve, bu there are LOTS of online tutorials and lost of help here and on YouTube. As a long time user of CorelDraw I can say that the latest version of Inkscape is nipping at their heels and once CoreDraw went tthe "Ransonware" route its a no brainer.

The glitter of "easy to use" wears off pretty fast while the tarnish of paying too much lasts forever.

[adbuch]

While you can export in DXF but the master files stay in the cloud and you are limited under the hobby version to just a few master files at a time.

There is a limit of 10 "active editable" files at a time. What this means is that you can simultaneously edit up to 10 documents at a time. It is easy enough to change the file status from "active" to "read only" and visa versa.

You can have an unlimited number of inactive ("read only") documents that you can access but not edit simultaneously.

So - NO - your are not "limited under the hobby version to just a few master files at at time".

Also - not only can you save/export dxf files from Fusion 360 - you can also download your "Master Files" to your pc in the Fusion 360 .f3d format.

[adbuch]

You do need to be aware you don't own your Fusion Files .

Yes, you do indeed own the files you create with Fusion 360 for personal use. The files are tied to your Autodesk account and are private.

You have full access to your designs in your projects.

Other users can only access your designs by invitation.

You can export your Fusion 360 files to other CAD formats (*.stl, *.ipt, *step, etc.) or as native Fusion files (*.f3d).

David

[adbuch]

Here is an example of a solid model created using Fusion 360, then exported and opened with another 3D cad program.
David

Fusion 360 - 1.jpg

Fusion 360 - 2.jpg

[adbuch]

"Autodesk offers Fusion 360 for free to hobbyists as a strategic move to attract potential future paying customers by allowing them to learn and become familiar with the software's capabilities, ultimately encouraging them to upgrade to a paid version when they start using it for commercial projects or need more advanced features; this is essentially a "try before you buy" approach, fostering a larger user base and market penetration for Fusion 360.


Key points about this strategy:

Building a user base:
By providing free access to hobbyists, Autodesk exposes a large pool of potential users to Fusion 360, increasing the likelihood that they will choose it when they need a professional design software.


Educating future customers:
Hobbyists using the free version learn the software's functionalities and become comfortable with its workflow, making it more likely they will opt for a paid subscription when they transition to professional use.


Community development:
A large community of hobbyist users can generate valuable feedback and tutorials, further promoting the software's usability and reputation.


Market dominance:
By making Fusion 360 widely accessible, Autodesk aims to establish it as the preferred CAD software, even among those who eventually transition to paid versions.


However, it's important to note that the free "personal use" version of Fusion 360 has limitations compared to the paid versions, typically including restrictions on project storage, file export options, and advanced features like simulation capabilities."

[tinspark]

You do need to be aware you don't own your Fusion Files .

Yes, you do indeed own the files you create with Fusion 360 for personal use. The files are tied to your Autodesk account and are private.

You have full access to your designs in your projects.

Other users can only access your designs by invitation.

You can export your Fusion 360 files to other CAD formats (*.stl, *.ipt, *step, etc.) or as native Fusion files (*.f3d).

David

David is. Correct.
Another option is “Onshape”, which is totally cloud based.I took a class through our apprenticeship school last year which was sponsored through one of our local City Colleges and got a free student license for a year, but found that I liked Fusion 360 better, and now only use the free version, Most of the stuff that I draw are one time only parts, so I export as DXF and use and save teh DXF in one of my free cloud storage accounts.
Onshape does have a free version as well, but when you close teh program anyone can see your work, use and modify it . But your master version stays untouched. I use designedge to edit asomethhing that I autotraced usuallly. The downside is that it costa a lot. $2k (My Gotorch did not come with it in 2018) Inkscape to auto trace artsy type stuff. and Fusion 360 mainly for mechanical parts. But I only work with 2D parts presently, and is my main focus.
All the prior post are great advise. But the main thing IMO is to get good at a few capable programs , and stick with them. After a short time and a few headaches, you will be proficient at them
Most guys here use at least 2 or 3 programs:
1) for mechanical parts
2) for artsy type stuff
3) for post processing
my small choice that I use regularly works for me, but there are a plethora of options which is a daunting process to 1) choose the right programs?software for yourself, and 2) to choose the right one for yourself without blowing a bunch of $$$, but just as important, not waste a bunch of time spinning your wheels jumping around trying stuff out, which is often inevitable in most cases
Hope something here helps!!

[tcaudle]

You can export your Fusion 360 files to other CAD formats (*.stl, *.ipt, *step, etc.) or as native Fusion files (*.f3d).

Well, i missed that option when I was using the Free version . The only option I had was DXF . Having the Fusion native format was not real helpful because you cant do anything with it locally. I guess if someone else was a free or paid user and if they are online they could take your file and add into their private repository.

Having owned a software company at one time and reading lots of license agreements, its the fine print that gets you . A lot of agreements state you do not really OWN the software you bought . You just own a "license" to use it under the conditions stated . Often the "conditions" preclude you being able to sell, give, rent, donate or install more than one copy of the software or the license , and the license can be revoked by them for ANY reason . If you read the Fusion 360 license for the free version , its clear they put a lot of restrictions on the definitions of Hobby and Personal use. Even though I don't do design or cutting for money, I own a company that exceeds their yearly minimum gross income which they classify as commercial use . It does not matter that 99% of the gross income has nothing to do with using their product.
Let's say you own a auto repair shop and maybe build some custom stuff. You decide to buy or build a CNC plasma table as a shop tool and you cut an occasional bracket and maybe some decorative stuff for friends. It's not just the money you make off that table , its the entirety of the whole business. Its the GROSS SALES of that business. I have not used my free version in a long time because I do not meet the criteria for it even though I have my own shop and CNC equipment .

I openly admit that the 3D drawing tools are very good and if you are into 3D printing and maybe hobby routing or milling its a great tool. Part of that is because they bought out a lot of good CAD and CAM companies , used some of their technology, but mostly just made the competing products go away.

IF you own, or are partners in, a company that is using Free Fusion 360 for even minor or occasional projects you are exposed to having to buy a legal subscription for every user /workstation or face some REALLY steep fines of up to $125,000 per violation. How would they know? It's their servers and their cloud ...think about it.

If you are doing 2D or 2,5D type stuff it makes even less sense when there are dozens of CAD and Drawing options that are low cost or even free

Okay I will shut up

[adbuch]

If you read the Fusion 360 license for the free version , its clear they put a lot of restrictions on the definitions of Hobby and Personal use. Even though I don't do design or cutting for money, I own a company that exceeds their yearly minimum gross income which they classify as commercial use . It does not matter that 99% of the gross income has nothing to do with using their product.

Tom - please share the link to the full detailed Fusion 360 license agreement for the free version so that we may more fully understand the "restrictions on the definitions of Hobby and Personal use".

The only information I have been able to find is as shown below.



"Autodesk Fusion 360 for personal use

Autodesk Fusion for personal use is a limited, free version that includes basic functionality for qualifying users who generate less than $1,000 USD in annual revenue and use for home-based, non-commercial projects only."

Fusion 360 license agreement.jpg

Fusion 360 license agreement 1.jpg

My takeaway is that there are two categories.
1. Users who generate less than $1000 annually as a result of using this product.
2. Users creating or involved in home-based, non-commercial projects.

It makes no sense to me that their $1000 annual limit would include other business income.

A particular user will most certainly have other income totally unrelated to the use of this product. I can think of many examples - doctors, store managers, mechanics, air craft pilots, etc. Maybe one of them has a hobby using Fusion as part of their work flow - perhaps they are designing and creating 3D printed items - small animals, dolls, model cars, etc.

The way I interpret this - they are qualified to use the Free version as long as the result of their use is either for hobby/non-commercial use - or they are using it for commercial purposes and their annual revenue from sales of their products/services as a result of using Fusion 360 is less than $1000 per year.

If you can provide further written clarification from Autodesk as to the exact details of this "license agreement" - I would love to see it.

And by the way - if my business did indeed generate over $1000 annually as a result of using Fusion 360 - I would gladly pay the annual monthly or annual subscription fee.

[adbuch]

IF you own, or are partners in, a company that is using Free Fusion 360 for even minor or occasional projects you are exposed to having to buy a legal subscription for every user /workstation or face some REALLY steep fines of up to $125,000 per violation. How would they know? It's their servers and their cloud ...think about it.

I would expect that most companies involved in any endeavor related to cad design work would have paid commercial licenses for any of the software they use. I have worked in the past at companies that used SolidWorks, Pro/Engineer (now Creo), AutoCAD, Mastercam, etc. and they always has commercial licenses locally administered by their IT departments.


David

[adbuch]

You can export your Fusion 360 files to other CAD formats (*.stl, *.ipt, *step, etc.) or as native Fusion files (*.f3d).

Well, i missed that option when I was using the Free version . The only option I had was DXF . Having the Fusion native format was not real helpful because you cant do anything with it locally. I guess if someone else was a free or paid user and if they are online they could take your file and add into their private repository.

Tom - Google tells me that Fusion 360 was introduced in 2013 - and the first version would export in the following formats.

The original Fusion 360 could export objects in the following file formats:

STL: Stereolithography
FBX: File format for 3D objects
OBJ: File format for 3D objects
DXF: Drawing exchange format
F3D: Autodesk Fusion file format
F3Z: A zipped collection of F3D files

You can export your Fusion 360 files to other CAD formats (*.stl, *.ipt, *step, etc.) or as native Fusion files (*.f3d).

Having the Fusion native format was not real helpful because you cant do anything with it locally. I guess if someone else was a free or paid user and if they are online they could take your file and add into their private repository.

Having the Fusion "native format" locally (ability export *.f3d format) will allow you to share (via email, etc.) your Fusion 360 file with other Fusion 360 users - particularly useful if working on a team project. This is a very handy feature because it preserves the history and timeline of the file in the exported copy.

[adbuch]

Another option is “Onshape”.

All the prior post are great advise. But the main thing IMO is to get good at a few capable programs , and stick with them. After a short time and a few headaches, you will be proficient at them.

Most guys here use at least 2 or 3 programs:
1) for mechanical parts
2) for artsy type stuff
3) for post processing


My small choice that I use regularly works for me, but there are a plethora of options which is a daunting process to

1) choose the right programs?software for yourself, and

2) to choose the right one for yourself without blowing a bunch of $$$, but just as important, not waste a bunch of time spinning your wheels jumping around trying stuff out, which is often inevitable in most cases


Hope something here helps!!

Doug - I very much agree! I did try the free version of OnShape a while back - but was really not impressed - particularly compared to Fusion 360.

That is very good advise to stick with a few programs that work for you, and know them well - so you are not searching around trying to figure out how to use the program - you are already a master and it comes "second nature" to you.

For most of the work I do - my "Big Three" are Design Edge, Inkscape, and Fusion 360 - and quite often a combination of all three of them. I'm not in the business of selling cnc plasma cut stuff - so most of what I do with my table is creating gifts for family members and friends.

I also like the CorelDraw B-spline tool for manual tracing. Both Inkscape and Design Edge have similar tools, but I prefer the CorelDraw version.

Fusion 360 does have a really neat 2D drawing ability - which I normally use only for creating solid models for 3D printed parts. Also - sometimes I will draw the 2D shape with Design Edge or Inkscape - and then "import" to Fusion 360 to use as the basis of my 3D solid model.

If I did not have Design Edge - then I would probably use SolidEdge 2D or QCad - both free and easy to use for 2D drawings. I have both programs, have used them quite extensively, and would recommend them to anyone looking for a simple 2D drawing program.

David

[tcaudle]

If you read the Fusion 360 license for the free version , its clear they put a lot of restrictions on the definitions of Hobby and Personal use. Even though I don't do design or cutting for money, I own a company that exceeds their yearly minimum gross income which they classify as commercial use . It does not matter that 99% of the gross income has nothing to do with using their product.

Tom - please share the link to the full detailed Fusion 360 license agreement for the free version so that we may more fully understand the "restrictions on the definitions of Hobby and Personal use".

The only information I have been able to find is as shown below.



"Autodesk Fusion 360 for personal use

Autodesk Fusion for personal use is a limited, free version that includes basic functionality for qualifying users who generate less than $1,000 USD in annual revenue and use for home-based, non-commercial projects only."


Fusion 360 license agreement.jpg
Fusion 360 license agreement 1.jpg


My takeaway is that there are two categories.
1. Users who generate less than $1000 annually as a result of using this product.
2. Users creating or involved in home-based, non-commercial projects.

It makes no sense to me that their $1000 annual limit would include other business income.

I have not read the license lately (the fine print in the actual license you agree to) but while you are correct and it would not cover a business that has not ties to the type work being done outside the hobby , you can't claim it for personal use when you use it to do work in an existing business . You can't own a shop that does commercial for pay work where the software is used for any of that work . The wording BEFORE (they keep changing the features and terms) defined the the dollar amount as the TOTAL amount that business or partnership did , not JUST the specific item done with the Application. Bottom line is they can freeze your account and you have the burden of proof to prove you are not in violation.. Until you have been sued ( I have, but not by AutoDesk) ) you learn not to argue with lawyers and to define legal documents. The licenses I read was explicit about the income (it was a bigger number than 1000, but was the TOTAL income of that business) .So lets take you auto mechanic example. If that person owns a shop and it has a Plasma table used for cutting out brackets and parts to use in the repair of vehicles the parts are probably not sold as a line item on the invoice so they are not sold for profit (one could argue) but I would think that would be a commercial use.

They may have changed it but the intent is to prevent you from using this in a business to make money . The summation of the license agreement may not be the actual one (legal document) you agree to .

If you own a business that has a plasma , router or other CNC machines and you make money off it, they expect you to buy a subscription license. Where its actual projects you used it on or if its total business would be in the details.

A particular user will most certainly have other income totally unrelated to the use of this product. I can think of many examples - doctors, store managers, mechanics, air craft pilots, etc. Maybe one of them has a hobby using Fusion as part of their work flow - perhaps they are designing and creating 3D printed items - small animals, dolls, model cars, etc.

The way I interpret this - they are qualified to use the Free version as long as the result of their use is either for hobby/non-commercial use - or they are using it for commercial purposes and their annual revenue from sales of their products/services as a result of using Fusion 360 is less than $1000 per year.

If you can provide further written clarification from Autodesk as to the exact details of this "license agreement" - I would love to see it.

And by the way - if my business did indeed generate over $1000 annually as a result of using Fusion 360 - I would gladly pay the annual monthly or annual subscription fee.

While you are an honest person and you would self police there may be those that don't adhere to the same level.
You can surmise that I am not a big fan of AutoDesk. Been doing this a long time (since DOS days) and seen a lot of acquisitions and mergers and seldom does it help the end user, BTW $1000 in business is not $1000 in profit and paying 600/yr for software when you only profit maybe $200 off is not a good investment.

[adbuch]

Tom - I will defer to your expert experienced opinion and interpretation of the license agreement. I suppose that others reading this discussion can (and will) arrive at their own conclusions as it relates to their own specific endeavors - hobby, business, or otherwise.

David

[adbuch]

While you are an honest person and you would self police there may be those that don't adhere to the same level.

By the way - I still use SolidWorks 2016 (I think I paid around $4k for a standard single user license) for the handful of 3D printed items I do sell. It works pretty much the same as Fusion 360 - but with maybe a few more advanced features.

Here are a few of them.

Plasmsacam torch pointer cap screen shot.jpg

Hypertherm Torch Pointer Body screen shot.jpg

clamp block base screen shot.jpg

Also - most all of my cnc manufactured metal products I design using a combination of AutoCad 14 (single user license from 1998 - still has the hardware lock on the parallel port) and MasterCam 9 (think I paid around $4k for that as well).

You can surmise that I am not a big fan of AutoDesk. Been doing this a long time (since DOS days) ...

Yes - my takeaway from many of your past posts is that you are not a big fan of Autodesk, dxf file format, or any of the cad programs with subscription models.

I was doing this back before DOS as well - we were batch processing Hollerith cards on mainframes.

David

[tcaudle]

Yeah I did connection work from IBM 360 and 5250 terminal screens to Novell Networks. I built a 8088 computer before Bill sold DOS to IBM. Wrote programs in a version of BASIC to run my mail order business.. I had Rhino 3D on an old Windows PC but its long gone . Started using CorelDraw at version 2 (not X2 )and was a beta tester for a program called Designer in the Dallas area . I sold and installed Word Perfect to local law firms getting off dedicated word processors. Designer was more of a Mechanical drafting program . They were acquired by Corel and it came out as another title in the Corel line for a while then vanished.

After years of CorelDraw use its was not a gentle move to Inkscape. Over the last few releases they have slowly added improvements and features that make it a lot closer and its cross platform/. The multi-page support was nice . The only feature I miss was being able to grab the ruler and snap it to a new position and make that zero , zero. You can do the same thing in Inkscpe using GUIDES and the Offset and duplicate features/
but it does not change the ruler or the origin. I wish they would come out with an Inks cape "lite" that skipped all of the illustration tools and simplified the toolbars and Options. I have learned to ignore what I don't need for simple plasma and 2D router stuff but to a new user its like sitting down in a cockpit of an F35 when you are learning to fly a single engine Cessna ,

I do appreciate your willingness to help the new guys and share your knowledge. Don't get me wrong. I am not against big companies and software development. The whole subscription thing came out of their desire to stop people giving or selling their software and to provide a more more constant revenue stream. It looks better to pay 50 bucks a month (600/yr) for an app than to consider in 5 years you paid $3000 for that app.
What I do take exception to is a big com[any buying up smaller innovative software companies just o get competing products off the market
I used to enjoy a website called Instructionables until I looked up one day and saw it was taken over by AutoDesk.
As the Borg say: "you must assimilate!"

In the late 90's I was a IT manager in a large industrial company and we had over 100 remote locations and over 20 plants in the US and a lot used AutoCAD with the Dongles . As corporate IT we had to account for all software and as people left or the plant shutdown Dongles walked like they had skate boards. It got so bad that the CFO declared that we could not buy any software for remote plants that used any form of hardware HASP or device.

keeponcuttin2.png

[adbuch]

Yeah I did connection work from IBM 360 and 5250 terminal screens to Novell Networks. I built a 8088 computer before Bill sold DOS to IBM. Wrote programs in a version of BASIC to run my mail order business.. I had Rhino 3D on an old Windows PC but its long gone . Started using CorelDraw at version 2 (not X2 )and was a beta tester for a program called Designer in the Dallas area . I sold and installed Word Perfect to local law firms getting off dedicated word processors. Designer was more of a Mechanical drafting program . They were acquired by Corel and it came out as another title in the Corel line for a while then vanished.

After years of CorelDraw use its was not a gentle move to Inkscape. Over the last few releases they have slowly added improvements and features that make it a lot closer and its cross platform/. The multi-page support was nice . The only feature I miss was being able to grab the ruler and snap it to a new position and make that zero , zero. You can do the same thing in Inkscpe using GUIDES and the Offset and duplicate features/
but it does not change the ruler or the origin. I wish they would come out with an Inks cape "lite" that skipped all of the illustration tools and simplified the toolbars and Options. I have learned to ignore what I don't need for simple plasma and 2D router stuff but to a new user its like sitting down in a cockpit of an F35 when you are learning to fly a single engine Cessna ,

I do appreciate your willingness to help the new guys and share your knowledge. Don't get me wrong. I am not against big companies and software development. The whole subscription thing came out of their desire to stop people giving or selling their software and to provide a more more constant revenue stream. It looks better to pay 50 bucks a month (600/yr) for an app than to consider in 5 years you paid $3000 for that app.
What I do take exception to is a big com[any buying up smaller innovative software companies just o get competing products off the market
I used to enjoy a website called Instructionables until I looked up one day and saw it was taken over by AutoDesk.
As the Borg say: "you must assimilate!"

In the late 90's I was a IT manager in a large industrial company and we had over 100 remote locations and over 20 plants in the US and a lot used AutoCAD with the Dongles . As corporate IT we had to account for all software and as people left or the plant shutdown Dongles walked like they had skate boards. It got so bad that the CFO declared that we could not buy any software for remote plants that used any form of hardware HASP or device.

keeponcuttin2.png

Thanks for sharing your very interesting historical experience with us. That 50 bucks a month is not a bad deal at all for someone who will get their use out of it, particularly if they are indeed using it to help produce income from sales of designs, parts, etc.

You story about Autodesk buying up smaller companies to eliminate the competition reminds me very much of MSC (formerly Manhattan Supply Company). I remember back 40 years ago when they were just starting out and had a nice thin catalog. I bought a rotary table from them for my Burke Millrite milling machine at a very fair price (imported). At the time others like Rutland Supply and Enco were the main competition for mail order machine tools and tooling. After a time, MSC got bigger and started really upping their prices - so I would go to Enco to get much more reasonable prices for end mills, tooling, etc.

Then maybe 15 years ago or so MSC bought (absorbed) Enco and Rutland Supply and effectively eliminated the competition. MSC still has very high prices - and I don't buy from them unless absolutely necessary.

David