Is Camsoft worth the $,$$$

[Myk Bates]

I have read many posts on Camsoft and people seem to be divided. I have a 90's model cnc router with servo motors and drives that are working. The controller is another issue. My question is do I spend the $$ on Camsoft or go some other route and why?

[ontheroad]

It's something you have to decide for yourself.

I started learning about CNC here and read to use mach.

I have had both mach and Camsoft. Camsoft has treated us well. Above and beyond our expectations. It made the difference in working or not. It is worth the $. Us old timers say don't be penny wise and dollar foolish. Don't let anyone tell you what to do.

There are other systems beside Camsoft out there take a look. Decide on who meets all your needs. Each has something different to offer. Some lack where other shine.

Merry Christmas and God Bless

[Farmers Machine]

Are you going to do the retrofit your self or hire professional company to do it for you? If you are an electronics genius it will be easy to do the retrofit and customize your operator screen just the way you want it to work. Cam Soft is like any professional control, you have to understand what you want to do and how to hook it up to have a very sucessful retrofit. A very good thing about Cam Soft is someone has already retrofitted a router and there is a default CBK file that will make your machine go right off the batt. it wont have all of the whistles and bells but you can add them later as you go. I learn a little bit more each day about my gantry oxy fuel torch with Cam Soft Pro and the more I use it the better I like it. Buy the high end Galil card so you can have remote hand wheels and variable speed nob on the control and not have to use a mouse to change feed rate. the control can function on any machine very well. Fanuc or Seimens will cost 20 grand and you get what they sell you not exactly what you want. with Cam Soft you make it how you want it, for a lot less money.
Remember, this is my opinion and I only have 34 years experience as a machinist.There are a lot of people with a lot better ideas than mine.
Good Luck
The Farmer

[Farmers Machine]

I was very lucky and maybe even blessed from up above to have a master genius for a friend who helped me do the conection of the encoders and servo drives or I would have been as lost as a north bound goose at christmas time.
Good Luck
The Farmer

[Myk Bates]

Buy the high end Galil card so you can have remote hand wheels and variable speed nob on the control and not have to use a mouse to change feed rate

Thanks for the reply. By high end do you mean the Accelera PCI Card or will the Econo PCI card work?

Thanks
Myk

[Karl_T]

Originally Posted by Myk Bates Buy the high end Galil card so you can have remote hand wheels and variable speed nob on the control and not have to use a mouse to change feed rate Thanks for the reply. By high end do you mean the Accelera PCI Card or will the Econo PCI card work? Thanks Myk

The econo series is the one to avoid. Its the DMC18x2 models. No aux encoders, no opto isolation, no analog. You loose a lot to save a couple $.

To answer your original query, spend a day and read all the Camsoft threads here. Do the same on other controls. Keep in mind any NG ends up being kind of slanted toward people that are lost and confused with a few kooks.

In the case of Camsoft you will see a core of successful users that swear by it. And some that were not able to make it work. If you go Camsoft, analyze what these folks downfall may have been and don't repeat their mistakes.

Karl

[Myk Bates]

Good Sound advice. Thanks Karl