As my little post-script, back while I was working (and more willing to spend money) and first got interested in CNC machining relief images (2004, 2005) I investigated the available software.........
All I could find was ArtCam and Mastercam Art. They were both big bucks, and charged annual maintenance. Since they taught Mastercam (regular only) at my community college, I took a semester class, then bought Mastercam Art, for something above $10,000. I paid around $1200/year for maintenance.
Well, by the time I remodeled my basement to accept my big Shopbot, (added an outside access door, moving walls, moving/removing cast-iron soil stacks, installing big LVL's, redoing electrical for 200 amp service,,,,, etc) I had been on Mastercam maintenance for maybe 6 or so years, and never even used my Mastercam ART software! As soon as I found out about Vectric's Aspire, I stopped paying maintenance on my MasterCAM art,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I was hosed and am still upset.......... and as a result, I will always be thankful to Aspire, and PRAY that they keep doing business as they do, and that they don't sell out..............
Chuck
Chuck Keysor (circa 1956)
PRT Alpha 60" x 144" (circa 2004)
Columbo 5HP spindle
Aspire 9.0, Rhino 5