It's funny when you say things like mastercam or ug or solid works is the most widely use cam software package (for example), but the question is, is it the best now?. How old is mastercam?? and how long has it been around???? thats like saying Elvis has sold the most records in the world so he must be without a doubt the best singer???? eeerrr hes dead thou isn't he? and how long has his songs been around? so how can you compare him to someone who been around for 2 years and sounds as good but because hes only sold 10,000 records hes useless?????? Come on men we aren't in the play ground at school anymore you don't have to prove who has the biggest tool now. Do you? Cad/Cam rocks!

After reading more of this post I can see that it's basically "each to his own". I guess we could all say we're experts and we know which is the right software, But I guess it's up to the individual in what they are seeking. I know from personal experience (not that it is much) that I find some "products" easier to use than other, however that doesn't mean that another person feels the same. So as I have suggested and as well as others in here, is to get some demo software or whatever you are looking for and try it urself. Then make comments about it. It's a bit hypocritical to make comments on something you have never tried or seen for that fact. If you happy with Mastercam and have invested some mullah in it STAY WITH IT!. If you want to look around WELL LOOK AROUND! That doesn't mean through MC in the bin, its a good program and a shame to waste it!

I understand what you mean DrewG and point taken. To me software is like buying or "renting" anything else, if you pay for a product you would expect it to work? am i right? if not the company should fix it. If I lease a PC from a company and it dies they then come and fix it as I have payed a lease fee. I basically get what I payed for. If the PC isn't install properly by the company and doesn't work why should I pay them to come out and get it going? Why should we pay for their "mistakes" or "experimentations". If i was a developer I would want to fix my problems with my software for my customers to keep them happy and to show people that I give my support to my product. I, as well as others, hope that one day the cad/cam programs will have "free" bug fixed, upgrades are a different matter, I believe it will also make their product alot more attractive, no ongoing fees (bit like the banks wouldn't u say ). Master cam I believe is a good product and I would recommend people get a demo to try it out, I am not bagging it in anyway so please don't get the wrong impression. Anyway all is good from where I am sitting .

Hello, In regards to the "costly compared to what?". The point i was making there (soz i didn't explain it better) is that onecnc has no maintenance cost, this may seem unbelievable, but its true, and if you say "but it may be a bodgy program", the best thing to do is take a look urself at it, as i did. The other thing i don't understand about alot of softwares eg... ug,pro,cat etc.... is that why to you pay for a product that has a bug or a fix in it and then have to pay for them to fix it????. Wouldn't you think that in buying a product it should work?? I can understand having to buy an upgrade but an update??? it doesn't make sense. Why would i buy a car from Henry Ford and drive it a week later and the steering wheel falls off, would they replace it for nicks?? not pay to get it fixed? I'm not trying to start a argument It that i don't see why "we" as cad/cam ers should be paying for a program bug fix! oh and thanks for the welcome

I have checked out both Onecnc and Mastercam and they both are very good programs. The post processor in Onecnc is outstanding. To the best of my knowledge (as limited as it is), there are only a few cad/cam software packages that provide a cad and cam together (not a imported one or where u have to migrate one to the other) It is always good to look around and see what is about. However as BC10146 mentioned it can be a pain swapping software, but its similar to using different types of cnc machines, they all have the same basic teachings, I'm sure that if you use one now its not a problem to use or learn others. Mastercam also is an excellent drawing package all thou the maintenance can be costly but you get what you pay for.