Slowly evaluating CAD/CAM packages for simple needs -- flat plate with some 3D features, but I'd like some additional capabilities later such as proper 3D shapes (3-axis mill) and single-point threading. I'm prototyping out of my garage so I don't have large-corp budgets.

I'm still not familiar enough with software to know what I will need in the future, but worst case I'll sell the software and pick something else up later. Due to sales pressures, I have the following options at this point:
(1) Alibre Xpress Plus = <$250
(2) Alibre recommends Design Standard ($995, but goes on sale periodically for $500)
(3) BobCad offered for $400 right now.
(4) Take a local community college CNC course for <$200, and get Solidworks, Rhino, etc student versions for $200-$300. This option let's me defer the cost of the full package for some time and I'd be able to pay for the "right" package then, although this path makes me unproductive for quite some time until the course gets started and rolling.

Any quick thoughts? What I'm asking first is if I should take the Bobcad plunge for $400 now as the deadline is today, else I can wait a week to decide about the others.

Cheers,
-Neil.

One thing to note is that student versions are usually not allowed to be used for commercial work, even if it is out of your garage.

Rhino can be purchased as a student version and used for commercial purposes. It is not restricted to educational use only.

(This is based off of my recollection of postings on the Rhino NG. You could pose the question there just to be sure)

Dan

I did not take the hasty plunge with Bobcad, and the salesman will extend.

Student-version limitations vary, but in my discussions with SW vendors (for PCB cad etc) some years ago, if it's not full production it's okay. Technically, prototyping is still learning, and the way they usually lay down the limit is that if I'm still in class, I have full rights to it. Not trying to skim past the legalities, but student versions will let me defer the cost for some time, until I know for sure what features I need. It really ticks me off when I pay for software and find out that it's buggy or won't properly do what they claim, then I'm stuck with it, so student/trial versions are my way of making them prove it before I lay down the cash. As an example, I had heard great things about Mach3 and was just going to plop down the $160 for it, but after finding some worrysome bugs, I am now looking into EMC.

FWIW, The course (CNC Programming Intro) is $140, and Alibre Design Standard is $96, Rhino 4.0 is $150, Solidworks is $100. There are other courses on Mastercam programming intro and Solidworks intro.

BTW, Alibre's sales rep said that if their SW does not fit my needs, they'll refund my purchase, within 30 days.

Discussions with Alibre have been very professional. Bobcad has been decent as well, but Rhino didn't seem to want to speak with me -- the rep kept pointing me to their website with a caustic/snide tone, although I asked him from the start if he could help me make sense of the info on the website.

I'm hoping someone here who's tried both Bobcad and Alibre, and who knows more than me about machining (very easy :) ) could give me some brief thoughts on one vs. the other.

Cheers,
-Neil.

As an example, I had heard great things about Mach3 and was just going to plop down the $160 for it, but after finding some worrysome bugs, I am now looking into EMC.


If you report Mach3 bugs to Art directly via email or through the Yahoo support group, most bugs are fixed within a day or two, unless they are difficult to track down.

I'm leaning away from the courses as the SW package prices are getting better. Bobcad v21 is being offered to me for $400, and Alibre Design Standard is down to $500 for another week or so, plus some training is included. I need to figure out what exactly I need features-wise, but pricing is in my ballpark now.