[Toolrunner]

madCAM is very competitively priced, especially now in v4.2 with the 4-axis level priced between the entry and expert levels. So I am considering buying the 4-axis level for a 4-axis CNC mill/rotary-table setup used for small prototype and pattern-making work.

I cannot understand all the terminology in the feature list, and this is where I need help. I can see that the limitations between the 4-axis level and the expert level, for a 4-axis setup, are:

Roughing:-
-Stock Model: No
-Roughing-remachining: No
-Simultaneous 4-axis Stock Model: No
-Simultaneous 4-axis Roughing-remachining: No
Remachining:-
-Z-level remachining: No
-Planar remachining: No
-Simultaneous 4-axis Radial-level remachining: No
-Simultaneous 4-axis Planar remachining: No
Regions and Boundaries:-
-User defined stock models: No

So in relation to these limitations, I have two questions:

1. The madCAM 4-axis version has no remachining functionality. How will that limit my work? The madCAM videos suggest to me that using the roughing and finishing functions that are provided in the 4-axis level might be enough. What then is the advantage of the remachining functions?

2. If you cannot define the stock model, then how do you machine from a cylindrical rod of material held in the rotary table chuck?