Best Cam system under $200?

[Cold Fusion]

I will be looking for cam software soon and need alittle advice. I've downloaded Visualmill and Onecnc but these are all too expensive for me. I was looking at turbocnc but I don't know if it provides the flexibility that I want. Most of my parts will be 2d plastics and 2 1/2d wood engravings.

[High Seas]

You might try a demo download of MACH2 and then head to the Yahoo MACH1/MACH2 users groups. I was trying to figure out the 2d/3d photo engraving - heaps of advice there and very useful too! Tips on stepover as related to bit size and image. DeMystifing I'd say!.
Jim

[Cold Fusion]

Forgot to mention I already have the demo of mach1/2. The problem is whenever I load up a g code the program crashes.

[High Seas]

Using a laptop? Not right config/OS in/on your setup/system? Followed the setup and read the documentation? It does need to run at the most basic level of you OS and setup instructions are fairly specific. Tried asking Art @ artsoft.ca for assistance? I'd bet he'd help knowing you're evaluating for a potential purchase!
Jim

[Cold Fusion]

Windows Xp
Dell 2.54 Ghz P4 Desktop

I'll try re-installing it and pay careful attention to the instructions.

[robgrz]

Check out MeshCAM, http://www.robgrz.com/meshcam.phtml for some STL, DXF, and bitmap 3d machinine software. I'm a little biased towards it, but it should do what you want for the carving part.

Robert

[kong]

ColdFusion, I had a similar problem with Mach2 crashing, but that was even before I got to load g-code. it was fixed with the installation of the "other" driver that is found on their download pages. Might be worth a go?

[Cold Fusion]

How about a cheap 2 axis software system? Anyone know one?

[ger21]

I posted a link to a free version of INtellicad here:

http://www.cnczone.com/showthread.php?threadid=2449

Save .dxf's from there and use ACE (also free) from here:

http://www.dakeng.com

Cheap enough?

Gerry