I have been using EZ-CAM since it only came as a $6000 package with a NEC 386-16 computer with a monster 2 meg add-in expansion ram card. (Actually it added to the 640k to make up a total of 2 meg.) The computer had a 40 MEGA byte hard drive and a NEC Multi-Sync Monitor with 640 x 480 resolution. WOW, was that advanced or what? They had just migrated the software from a dedicated workstation to a desktop computer. I took 3 days of instruction at a dealer's "school" in Rochester NY, and came home and started cranking out programs for our B'port CNCs. Previous to that, we had been programming manually. We upgraded as far as version 6 and haven't gone any further than that. 98% of the work I do 20-some years later can be done on EZ-CAM Ver. 6, with the remaining 2% falling to a friend who does freelance on MasterCam. I tried to learn MasterCam, back about version 8, and was able to write simple mill-and-drill programs after a week or so. 3-D programming is out of the question. I don't need it enough to bother to learn all the necessary stuff in MasterCam. EZ-CAM version 6 is rock solid, has a million postprocessors, and a post-processor-customizing utility, feed and speed tables (not that I pay attention to them), and I love it. I doubt I will ever upgrade to a later version of EZ-CAM unless someone gives me a copy.
Hi
I have used ez-cam for 15 years ....we purchased Mastercam x2 two years ago ...while i am loving Mastercam x2 ...i will never get rid of ezcam for all the reasons everyone has already expressed....with ezcam i have programmed Bp interact 4 and 412 , Monarch metalist , eztrak, ezpath, and Mazak mills and lathes... building post prosessors are much easier in ez-cam
if you are doing well with Mastercam i would not spend the Money for ezcam ....but if I did not have Mastercam or was having trouble with it Ez cam would be my first choice !
I use EZcam and have for a looooong time. How long? Well, the version I use only works on an older Mac and I've recently upgraded the computer (an old one also) and had to buy an old "classic OS to use it! Started using it in 1986. Ok...yes I use an other system also for 3 and 4 axis work but and have an upper level CAD system, for most other simple and quick work, I use the old EZcam. Very, Very fast for me.
I am considering looking a their top end EZcam...It's just that...well... it's not that old!!!
You think they will let me upgrade???
Steve
Forgive me for I have Mastercamed!
Well my choice fell upon Mastercam out of all of em.It's alot of dough but hopfully the best bang for the buck.
I shall keep my EZ-Cam express mill turn as I can still use it for my lathe.
Thank you all for your input
Classes begin Tuesday
Claude