Hey what is the real cost of MC?

[Cswife]

Trying to work with my hubby on this. So far we have $14K for the mill level 3, $1600 for maintenance and an additional $2200 for multi axis? Now I hear we need to buy custom posts for each and every different axis we use on our 4 machines.

This is getting scary

Is this pretty run of the mill pricing on MC and do people really swallow this whole when they are trying to grow? Whats your story and how much was it to "get in" to a copy?

[Superman]

Welcome

Not exactly sure what your costs would be in US$

but to set yourself up with Mastercam
1st, analyse what sort of product you are going to manufacture. Are you programming using basic wireframe, surfaces or solids. Are the shapes complex

2nd, what machines you are going to control ( make, model, # of axes for each machine and their axis cofigurations )

#1 and #2 together would give you what lowest level of Mastercam that you need. Go higher if possible to allow for future up-skilling and the jobs that would follow

#2 ( axis configuration for each machine ) would indicate what complexity of "post" is required to suit that machine

for example, if you have
a/ 1 HAAS , 3 axis machine centre
b/ 1 HAAS, 4 axis m/c ( 4th axis around X )
c/ 1 Fanuc 2 axis Lathe

you would need only 2 posts ( one for the lathe, one for a 4 axis m/c-the 4 axis post would also post code for the 3axis machine ).
Another post would be required if the machine or control was a different make

but also note, when you purchase Mcam, you are given many generic posts for the common machines, these would require "tweeking" to customize to your shop practices.

You may find that the reseller would do this as part of the package an no additional cost, to get the sale. So add that onto the condition of sale ( proven posts for your machines )

BUT if you have a full 5 axis m/c, mill/turn or other "specialised" machine, then the cost of a "post" can be high, and are an additional cost

[Mike Mattera]

So you need 5 axis programming and 3D surfacing? People do this all the time. "Mastercam is $22,000". Well it really depends what you need to do , or want to do.

Mastercam is upgradable. The cost to add on later is the same cost as buying it all up front.

Tell me what kind of machines you have, How many axis they have and what kind of parts you need to make?

If you walk into a car dealer and say I want this car with all the options, it will be expensive. But do I really need the heated seats if I live in Arizona?

Get what you need now to do the work you do now. Add functionality when you need to add functionality. I've seen people say "I want the 5 axis module, because I might get a 5X machine someday". That means, you dont need it now, so dont buy it now.

You'd be surprise just how much you can get done with a $6000 mill level 1 for everyday "job shop" work and rotary indexing. Make some money with it, then upgrade.

Hope this helps. Let me know what about your machines and parts.

Mike Mattera

[CWJoe]

Just curious, Have you looked into other cam systems? Are you running a stand alone cad product currently?

[foxsquirrel]

Originally Posted by Cswife Trying to work with my hubby on this. So far we have $14K for the mill level 3, $1600 for maintenance and an additional $2200 for multi axis? Now I hear we need to buy custom posts for each and every different axis we use on our 4 machines. This is getting scary Is this pretty run of the mill pricing on MC and do people really swallow this whole when they are trying to grow? Whats your story and how much was it to "get in" to a copy?

The true cost of MasterCrap is alot higher than the actual cash price. You must account for your time calling the rep for help because you overlooked a check box somewhere.

Drawing containment boundries so it can make a toolpath on all the drive surfaces you just selected.

During the SolidCam Demo I watched them select the surface and your done.

The MasterCrap hero's on here keep telling me its due to a lack of training!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes things can be highlighted and other times it will not work unless you restart the program, our rep said to reinstall the .net framework, sounded good to him at the time, it did not help.

The broken tooling from the post getting confused. The list goes on. We paid $17,000 for ours and I regret it.....

As for charging for the posts that is pretty common, solidcam is $400 per post, but if you are running a late model basic VMC that is a little to high.

I am pretty much sold on SolidCam but will be at IMTS show looking at some other vendors so we can replace MCRAP X3.

[Cswife]

I hear ya! If you dont know the software then its a huge burden and if its glitchy why so expensive???? I also dont understand the maintenance fee...if its so good why the maintenance fee?

[WayneHill]

Maintenance fee is usually is a way to keep the current updates available to the registered users. It is a lower cost than the regular price of the software.

The first question to ask yourself is 'What are my current plans and applications for the software?'

There are other softwares out there that will do what MC will do. In fact there are better softwares out there that beat the crap out of MC on price and performance on 2D and 3D work. 4 axis and 5 axis is another matrix to ponder....

I hope I confused you enough.

[foxsquirrel]

Originally Posted by WayneHill Maintenance fee is usually is a way to keep the current updates available to the registered users. It is a lower cost than the regular price of the software. The first question to ask yourself is 'What are my current plans and applications for the software?' There are other softwares out there that will do what MC will do. In fact there are better softwares out there that beat the crap out of MC on price and performance on 2D and 3D work. 4 axis and 5 axis is another matrix to ponder.... I hope I confused you enough.

I have to disagree a little regarding the toolpaths, MasterCrap does have a very good algorithm for the toolpaths, I feel that is one of their strongest areas they just don't know how make it stable or actually do the path on the selected drive surface. One of the demos from a potential vendor had extremely poor toolpaths, if you see alot of "sharks teeth" keep on looking.

[Mike Mattera]

"if its glitchy why so expensive?"

The great thing about these forums that that anyone can get on and voice their opinions. But it seems some people just like to come here to complain rather than offer useful answers to peoples questions. Most people will have no trouble using Mastercam to produce parts quickly and efficiently. I run Mastercam all day, everyday and I cant remember the last time I had any kind of problematic "lock up", crash, reboot, or serious file problem.

Mastercam is no more expensive that any other "comparable" Cam product. It's more affordable because it's modular. You only need to buy what you need (as I stated before). Mastercam also has twice the number of features as the nearest competitor.

Maintenance is a more cost effective way for you to keep it up to date. Since other Cad products will be updated and Windows gets updated, these things may effect your Mastercam. Maintenance will keep you up to date with the changes of those other packages and also get you new version releases. Every Cam software company charges maintenance. Mastercam's is one of the lowest.

No software is bug free (You've heard of Windows right?), but Mastercam is stable and does and excellent job producing toolpaths.

I've asked and I know others have asked, how you plan to use it, what kind of parts do you make and what machines you have? Care to share?

Mike Mattera

[foxsquirrel]

Originally Posted by Mike Mattera . No software is bug free (You've heard of Windows right?), but Mastercam is stable and does and excellent job producing toolpaths. Mike Mattera

Mike, at least Windows updates your version of software for free. They don't make me buy a maintenance contract to get the latest stable build of your licensed version. I buy XP and they provide stabilty updates until the end of XP's cycle. I paid for MasterCrap X2 & X3, in my opinion X3 is not stable, I am not asking for the additional features of X4 I JUST WANT A STABLE VERSION OF X3, that is what we paid for and did not get. If our rep would have gotten our posts right I would have continued on with maintenance. Pretty simple, poor service why continue.......


The pricing is rather high relative to the value, perceived and actual value are important. Their solids module is pre AutoCad 2000 flavor, I cannot believe they have the nerve to charge a customer for that when low end parametric software like Alibre can out perform it.

For the most part my X3 is dead, I cannot import Solidworks 2010 files directly. Do you want to call your customer and ask them to resend the file in parasolids format because MasterCrap cannot read the SW 2010. I don't appreciate looking like a bumbling idiot to a potential customer. Hmmmm....... $17,000 and year later and its not very usable do you really think that is right. I guess you can continue and say its lack of training again and again or that I am just a negative person slamming MasterCrap.

I am a novice Solidworks person(less than 6 months experience WITH OUT TRAINING) and hit a snag due to my lack of experience at 10:30 in the evening, too late to call the rep so I googled my problem mating an "O" ring in a groove. Guess what, first result was a link to Solidworks website with a Video that CLEARLY EXPLAINED what I was doing wrong and how to correct it. With MasterCrap I would have had to call our rep during normal business hours and hope for an answer, or better yet, maybe check a checkbox that was 3 levels deep and only after changing some parameter some where.

[littlebrewman]

I have used Mastercam version 9 and decided to buy my own seat of Mastercam X4 for Lathe. cost was $5000 big ones and well worth it.I do not have maint for it but when i call for support sometimes they put me into a go to meeting over the web and show me by taking control of my pc other times i send them a zip2go file and explain my issue and they promptly help me out.I have done just fine with generic posts for mastercam that came with it and have had them modified by my reseller when i need them to be and have never been charged for this as this is support from them. They should be willing to work with you for your needs. I would have them come out and use the software on one of your parts to show you its power. Next i would have them do it with the minimal level of software you would need to get started with using it yourself. After you are satisified i would then just build the software a modula at a time until u have everything you need,I would not buy more then u will need to use as it is a waste of the funds.

[CNCRim]

There are MC hater and Lover, and I don't think there will be the end debate on MasterCAM and Bobcad on this forum. My experience, I found that those are explore/spend enough time to get good at any CAD/CAM they love that software. And for those are critizied, I don't think they spend enough time/effort to get more depth...... I am not speak just for MC but all every other CAD/CAM out there.