[littlebrewman]

If you dont like Mastercam that is ok. Please dont say anything to deter others that are looking at getting it or for those of us who like working with the software.If you dont like the software keep your opinion to yourself in this nice forum which is for us who have questions or need help figuring something out.

[plasmator]

Hurry! Someone call the Waaaahmbulance

Seriously, if some is considering a Mastercam purchase and asks for the opinion of others in this forum, they should be able to get all sides of the story...both positive and negative.

[Superman]

if someone is considering a Mastercam purchase and asks for the opinion of others in this forum, they should be able to get all sides of the story...both positive and negative.

Agreed.......but only if such an opinion is asked for.
but to come in and just slag off for any reason is totally unfair on the thread starter that is asking for guidance/help... if it happened to be my thread, I'd feel offended and tell him to "p-ss off".

I'm pretty certain there is a clause in the "Forum Ruls", like
"Do not discuss problems that you may have against a particular company's way of conducting business and or other issues that may be better dealt with them directly. "
or even
"HARASSMENT & FLAMING:
CNCzone members are not permitted to harass or "flame" other members or company. Please do not post or transmit any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind, including, but not limited to, any material which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, violate the rights of others, or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, national or international law. Please note that this also includes the posting of taunts on a forum solely for the purpose of demeaning that forums topic and/or members."

At the moment, I just assume that the poster has no real experience in using any CAD software, no real ability to adapt to it, not able to ask the right questions for assistance to obtain the correct information, I just disregard those comments like I would a f-rt.
( un-comfortable & smelly only for a short time, but quickly forgotten )

[weirdharold]

( un-comfortable & smelly only for a short time, but quickly forgotten ) That's funny , right thar !!

[neurosis]

If I were looking for new software, no matter what the title may be, I would like to hear both good and bad experiences so I know what I am in store for. You get better information from people that have experience with the software. You never see a demo of a particular software where they highlight the bugs and issues. When people ask, why not let them know what they are in for?

Unsolicited opinions I will have to agree.

[jeffrey001]

Because in our society, you will hear more often peoples that are not satisfy with one product than those that appreciate it.

Jeff

[Dane Lindon]

Removed

[TheBigJW]

You should go hang at emastercam.com. It's censored there. Everybody loves Mastercrap there. It's a real love in.

John

[neurosis]

Because in our society, you will hear more often peoples that are not satisfy with one product than those that appreciate it.

Jeff

True that more often people start a post in complaint rather than in appreciation, but when someone looking to purchase mastercam asks for opinions, I see more good reply's over bad wouldnt you agree? That includes both this forum and emastercam.

[TheBigJW]

That wouldn't be fair to say about emastercam. Your are not allowed to criticize the software there or you get locked out. That forum is run by and moderated by the dealers that sell the software. It not a forum. It's a public relations website.

John

[WallyL7]

That wouldn't be fair to say about emastercam. Your are not allowed to criticize the software there or you get locked out. That forum is run by and moderated by the dealers that sell the software. It not a forum. It's a public relations website.

John

So, am I to assume that I can go over to your house, go in and tell your wife how much of a failure you are, or how you did this stupid thing or that stupid thing and you can just sit there and smile? My guess is you would try to throw me out... It is MASTERCAM'S FORUM!!! Is this site censored? I don't think I could just post nothing but porn on this forum...it goes against what the moderators are trying to accomplish...same goes for the emastercam forum. They want to keep it positive regarding their product so people like you don't just start flaming wars all the time and people can actually get real help and positive results.

I, for one, have had and have friends who have had so much help from that forum regarding super custom posts, and other really trick stuff, and everyone is friendly and cool.

John, you are trying to do something with your seat (make 2 seats out of one) that they feel is of value and should be paid for, yet you don't think you should pay for it. You are in the wrong, pal. Get over yourself.

To the o.p...I would say that all experiences should be heard if asked for on a forum. John just wants to type the word mastercrap it appears, since he is pissed at them for not giving him something for nothing, and therefore, his posts are utterly useless name calling.

Unfortunately, it is his right to pipe in on every mastercam string and put in his .02

[TheBigJW]

I don't want something for nothing. I asked my dealer how much it cost to have lathe and wire completely taken off my hasp so I can just upgrade mill to x4 and go on maintenance. I was quoted 4k for this because I had to debundle lathe and wire from the key to only use mill. I paid full price for mill and the discount was only applied to lathe and wire. So i see this as having to pay 4k to stop using a product. Even more unfair is the price in the US compared to Canada. I can buy mill for 5k in the us but it is 7500.00 here in Canada. I have many reasons to be upset with cnc and none of them have been addressed. Not even a return call from my dealer. I don't want something for nothing. I am a small business that just wants a fair shake. And I want to share my experience in an open forum in hopes to help other people not get stuck in the same dead end I am in with mastercam. I would suggest any canadiens to find a us address and buy the software that way. Way cheaper in the us for the purchase and the maintanence costs annually. I don't mind the cost of software. I pay every year on our seats of solidworks and our accounting software. I just expect some kind of product improvement for the fees. There have been none in mastercam lathe and wire for many years. People should be getting there money back. Not having to pay more. And to be asked to pay 4k to stop using it is a joke. If I was ever offered by my dealer to upgrade only mill I would still be a customer of cnc software.


John

[neurosis]

Let me get this straight. Your local rep is charging you to remove Lathe and wire? Or are you paying to catch up past due maintenance?

[Jhjr]

I use mastercam daily. Overall I like the software. I agree with the lathe comments. It's the same as it was years ago so I can see your discontents with it and maintenance but it will get the job done for 2 axis & some millturn stuff but not all of it. Mill kicks ass! Buisnesses screw businesses (& canadiens, haha) what else can you say. I would recommend mc if I was asked.


Nuerosis, he is getting charged cause when he bought mc it was bundled together. Mill, lathe & wire. At a discount from buying each separate. Maitenance is bundled then also. They charge to unbundle them. That's somewhat how they keep us all on lathe maintenance. Cause there's probably a lot of users who'd dump the lathe/wire maintenance if they could. Since it changed very little over the years.

[Mike Mattera]

When you buy a Bundle, your getting a discount because only 1 person can use 1 PC at a time. The $4000 lathe package is a $1000 add on when you Bundle it with Mill. Same with wire. As a second seat it would be $3250.

So if you want to UnBundle your lathe and wire it would be $3250 (lathe second seat) less the $1000 you already paid to add lathe in the bundle. So, $2250. Same for Wire ($2250). Plus maintenance.

Sounds like they gave you a discount.

[Mike Mattera]

I just reread the post.

If your removing the Lathe and Wire, because you no longer want it. The $4000 is a little strange. There will be a paper work fee and you'll need a new sim. But $4K is steep.

I'm guessing there's something else going on here. Like an upgrade to the newest version. I'm sure if you asked for a breakdown, they'd be glad to explain it in detail.

Maybe you asked for some free posts (Free Posts = Technically Competent Manual labor + Time). I'm sure the guy who writes the post refuses to work for free, no matter how nice the owner pf the mastercam dealership asks.

Something else going on here.

[WallyL7]

Mike,

You missed another one of his posts where he basically says that he is trying to do what you explained would cost those fees (which I also explained earlier).


He actually said that he doesn't want 2 seats...which is all fine...but he does want to use lathe still, so there is no way for them to keep his lathe key at X1 (or whatever) while being able to update mill seat to X4 (or whatever - you get the idea).


I just don't think that there is a way for CNC to do this. Therefore the only solution is to pay the separation fee up front then only pay the maintenance on the mill key later. Thus having 2 keys and 2 seats...

[Mike Mattera]

Past policy was... if you dont buy maintenance for it, you loose it. So if he only pays for maintenance on Mill, they will disable Lathe and Wire on the sim. They may request a sim exchange.

Still... something doesn't sound right with this story.

[Superman]

My understanding is:-
-he wants to be able to upgrade Mill to X5,
-still have Lathe and Wire and run it in X2
-pay maintenance only on Mill
-all with one SIM


----he currently pays maint on L/M/W...and is (I assume) at X4 MU3,
with no real reseller support, gets very little satisfaction by phone, has not had any real comprehensive training in Mastercam programming, and ( reading between the lines here, so I can be wrong ). needs his posts tweaked...wants to do it by himself..and he has no-one close by to bounce programming and post editting ideas around with............and I forgot.....he's sounds as if he's self taught....( no a bad thing, but there is some traits that need to be un-learned )

options for him
1-stop paying maint- stays at his current Version level
2-unlink Lathe & wire from the SIM- run the risk that the SIM will then only be enabled for Mill.......no Lathe, no Wire ----( this option is what he is wanting to do )
3-get a 2nd SIM with Mill maint, let the maintenance laspe on the 1st SIM ( he can upgade Mill while he is on mainenance, but he will have a monster gap to make up when he wants the latest (you-beaut, super, greatest, much improved, long awaited for ) version of lathe or wire.......when it comes out
4-stop his moaning and continue what he's doing now ( maint on all L/M/W )........like what everyone else has to do.....

[foxsquirrel]

If MasterCrap has any inclination to selling a quality product they would provide X3 users with a stable version(at least reliable geometry selection) for no charge since they failed to provide a stable product at the time of purchase. Considering they are on X5 and the old stuff is no longer of "value". Why spend $17,000 for crap when you can have the same crap (buggy, BS, headaches) for only $2500??????????