PlasmaCAM Design Edge vs. Advanced Design Software vs. other

[Metriccar]

Are there any of you that use PlasmaCAM design software exclusively vs. other CAD/design software programs out there even if you have access/tried them?

Is the Advanced Design Edge really worth $1000 more vs. $400 for Corel Draw?

[jimcolt]

I have owned PlasmaCam machines (3) for over 14 years. I used auto cad and Corel draw......until I got familiar with Design Edge about 3 years ago. I use, and my son uses Design Edge for 100% of our work now. Very intuitive!

Design Edge, to us.....was worth every penny!

Jim Colt

Are there any of you that use PlasmaCAM design software exclusively vs. other CAD/design software programs out there even if you have access/tried them?

Is the Advanced Design Edge really worth $1000 more vs. $400 for Corel Draw?

[mdwalker]

What Jim said! I rarely use any other software to design with.

[abmetal]

I know this has been discussed before but my understanding is that there are several options in the Design Edge program. Jim, and others...what options do you have and what did they cost?

Allen

[icmplasma85]

I just upgraded to Advanced Design about a month ago and it is worth every penny. If you have basic design, advanced is $1000 to upgrade, but you can actually trace photos in plasmacam instead of having to use another program. The only time I use another program is when someone sends me a PDF file of a logo they want, Inkscape will turn a crisp PDF into a DXF simply by opening the file, selecting it on the screen and then saving as DXF. But as far as tracing, DesignEdge is where its at. You also get standard shapes with advanced, like stars, ellipse, oval, propellers, gears, sprockets etc. And one tool I really like is fit text to path, where you can fit text to a circle or oval so you don't have to rotate every letter and place on circle manually. It really saves alot of time. Advanced design, advanced height control (very important), and advanced machine control is the best package you can get and I would recommend all three, its the only way to go.

[drakus]

Advanced design, advanced height control (very important), and advanced machine control is the best package you can get and I would recommend all three, its the only way to go.

With these 3 upgrades you have everything you need. I have been using them and in some cases corel for other image types, but mainly i just use designedge for everything. You cannot and will not go wrong with the 3 that icmplasma mentioned for upgrades. Probably the best $4k i spent in my life except for my wifes engagement/wedding rings.

[hotrodmetal1973]

I have the Advanced design. I still have trouble with tracing. Most of the pics I trace come out deformed and not usable. The others require a lot of work (hours). Very few come out close. What would be a good start on settings?