As a long time owner of PlasmaCam machines, also a Torchmate owner and am building a Mach 3 based machine...I can clarify a few things!
-The very first generation of PlasmaCam machines had a time period where online tech service was free....then after that time ran out you had to pay for phone support. That policy was changed 10 or 12 years ago based on their customer feedback...and now the online phone support is free for all of their machines. For some reason many continue to say that you have to pay for tech support from PlasmaCam...simply is not true. There also no longer is a fee for owner transfer, you do have to register your machine...used or new...to have site access. On the site, once you are registered are all of the prices for replacement parts for PlasmaCam machines.
-The PlasmaCam software...contrary to popular belief...does generate standard GCode. I know because I use it to drive my Torchmate machine....as well as a few other industrial machines that I have access to. I think the "no G-Code" comments came from the fact that using the PlasmaCam software does not require you to know or understand G-Code....it is totally transparent when running the PlasmaCam systems.
-If you add up the numbers of the largest entry level machine builders.....which are PlasmaCam and Torchmate....you will know that there are over 30,000 combined installations by these two companies. If you look at just plasma installations with Mach3.....many of which are homebuilt machines, I would guess that the Mach 3 numbers are smaller than 30,000 by a long shot.
Mach 3 is a universal cnc software that was first developed for machining (milling, routing, lathes, etc.) and then was adapted for cnc plasma cutting. It is a great package...especially for those that build their own machines as it can be adapted to about anything. The OEM machine builders that use it (there are a dozen or so in the entry level cnc plasma market) often customize the Mach3 screensets in order to make it more user friendly. It is a nice software. So is PlasmaCams, and so is Torchmates (Flashcut) software.
In my opinion it makes more sense on this forum to debate the real capabilities of each of these machines. They are all a bit different, they all have different learning curves, each supplier has different methods of going to market as well as supporting their valued customers. I see no reason for knocking any particular systems or companies...although I'm sure me saying that will likely not stop it!
If anyone wants relatively unbiased answers about any of these systems I would be happy to offer them up. I likely am biased about the Plasma cutters (I work for Hypertherm)...but the reason I have two....and soon will have 3 machines in my home shop....is so that I can help users make their plasma cutting systems work better...be it a PlasmaCam, Torchmate, or a Mach3 based system. By the way I also have 30 years experience working with industrial plasma cnc machines from the Likes of Koike, Messer (MG), Esab, ALLtra, C&G, Retro Systems, Advanced Cutting Systems, Advanced Kiffer Systems....as well as about 55 more....if you have questions about the high priced industrial machines.
Jim Colt Hypertherm
trucutcnc wrote:Dan-PlasmaCAM wrote:
PlasmaCAM does not Charge for tech support. We still support machines we made in 1998 with both Technical Support and Parts.
We just sold a machine to a customer who was told by your sales department that initial support was free, then there would be a charge. I didn't ask details, but that was one of the reasons he decided against PlasmaCAM. The other was your proprietary business model.
Are you saying that if a person were to buy a used PlasmaCAM they could call tech support any time without being hit up with a transfer fee or support contract?
Dan-PlasmaCAM wrote:
We do not use MACH 3 for several Reasons. First and foremost is that it was not available when PlasmaCAM originated. So we made our own. By creating our own integrated CAD/CAM solution we made our machine easier to use and more accurate.
You created your own system because Mach3 was not available. I get that part, but saying it's more accurate than Mach3 is just plain deceiving. Unlike PlasmaCAM software, Mach3 is customizable to the Nth degree. Screens and functions can be easily modified and customized to fit the users needs. If parallel port control is not adequate, there are a variety of USB and Ethernet external motion controllers available. Not even sure if PlasmaCAM has a shape library, but lets assume it does. If a customer called and asked that a custom shape be added to the library, would you charge to do it? Would you even do it at all?
Dan-PlasmaCAM wrote:
(FYI most machines do not use Mach3- It is the software of choice for start ups however over time they usually go to something else.)
Most machines in the sub 20K market DO use Mach3. It is well suited to the hobby, light and medium industrial markets. When a customer moves up to a heavy industrial table, they usually end up with an industrial controller from Burny, Hypertherm, ProMotion, etc. Desktop PC's don't fair well in harsh industrial environments, regardless of who's software is running. We use ProMotion controls on our large tables.
Dan-PlasmaCAM wrote:
The PlasmaCAM DesignEdge drawing software is the only Drawing Program made specifically for CNC Plasma Cutting.
Maybe, but for the same money you can have a full blown 3D CAD program with none of the proprietary pitfalls. Unfortunately, since PlasmaCAM does not use industry standard GCode, PlasmaCAM users have no choice but to use your software.[/quote]
