Artcam lives!!!

[bleeth]

Autodesk, after killing Artcam, has licensed it out the team of Artcam developers and it is now alive and released under the name Carveco. It has ALL the functionality of AC Pro (or AC Premium if you followed the Autodesk version) and for a limited time (rumored to be 60 days) the cost is only $1600.00 for full version perpetual use and 12 months direct support. (This is an introductory special)
It is compatible with Artcam files and is the same program as AC Premium 2018.
Check it out at www.carveco.com.
I've also been told that people with an Artcam license can get it for $1300.

[Brady Watson]

It's the real deal...

[bleeth]

I figured you would be one of the ones right on top of it!

[bleeth]

Better than what? VCP is a more basic program that has nothing in it of any note not included in either of the two programs discussed here.
However, just as many Aspire users will have no reason to acquire Carveco due to their actual needs, VCP also serves the needs of many very well.
My intent, rather than getting into a bunch of back and forth regarding other programs, was and is to simply inform our community of what is undoubtedly interesting news to some.
You may want to start another thread titled something like "Help me choose a program to buy please".

[robtown]

Better than what? VCP is a more basic program that has nothing in it of any note not included in either of the two programs discussed here.
However, just as many Aspire users will have no reason to acquire Carveco due to their actual needs, VCP also serves the needs of many very well.
My intent, rather than getting into a bunch of back and forth regarding other programs, was and is to simply inform our community of what is undoubtedly interesting news to some.
You may want to start another thread titled something like "Help me choose a program to buy please".

Some time ago, I managed a job remotely that required star shapes v-carved into the front of a trunk. The folks that were trying it initially had either Alpha Cam or Artcam, I don’t recall, and the renders they kept sending me had flat areas in the bottom of the stars when we wanted a point. Paul Zank, I believe, stepped up and created the toolpaths and did the actual trunk, if I remember correctly, using v-carve. I went on Vectric’s website and made a post extolling the virtues of vcp vs. alphacam (or artcam). Vetric reached out and actually gave me a copy of vcp because of it.

Yeah, I get that Artcam has v-carving as does Aspire. My recollection is that, back then, one of them did it better and more efficiently.

Don’t need “help” with anything. Just looking for learned opinions.
Sorry if this bothersome.

[waynelocke]

There is no right answer. It is like "I can't decide between a Ford and a Chevy." There is unlikely to be a blinding light on the way to Damascus.

If you are using VCP then maybe Aspire is the way to go since you know how Vectric functions and the best software is the one you know.

I have no experience or first hand knowledge of Artcam. The only complaints I have ever heard were "it's too expensive." Software is like a marriage. It is very hard for most people (me) to change software and make the commitment in time and effort needed to learn a new program.

One thing I have wondered about is the cost of owning and upgrading Carveco, Vectric has about a major upgrade a year at a cost 0f about $450. What will be the upgrade costs for Carveco and how often? If you use either program a lot then that may not matter. I upgrade Aspire pretty soon after every new version and never regret it but it may be a consideration. I know that the Carveco is a perpetual license and you can use it without ever upgrading it but that is not the same as not being able to afford to. Among the questions I would have for Carveco are "Can you sell your license and what is the cost for transfer?" How many versions back can you upgrade? I believe that Aspire lets you upgrade any version for the same price. I recently spent $1600 for a new license for my Cad program which I have used for over 20 years because they will only upgrade from two versions back.

The last consideration I have is that Carveco is a brand new company albeit with Artcam alums. If you purchase Carveco as your 3d modeling and toolpathing software you are betting that they will be around. I don't know anything about the company or the people but "new company" perks up the ears. The streets are full of new companies which failed even though they had great products. I'm sure that that is a big reason the that the introductory price is where it is — making the bet more tempting.

I don't know the answers to any of those questions but they would be among the ones that I would ask.

[robtown]

It's the real deal...

So this begs the question... CarveCo or Aspire?

[Brady Watson]

So this begs the question... CarveCo or Aspire?

I'll reiterate what I have answered elsewhere:

IBILD Solutions is now offering full support for CarveCo users and continued support for ArtCAM users. This includes custom video training showing how to setup and machine your 3D scanned part, just like we have been offering for the Vectric suite of software and ArtCAM Pro, since the beginning.

I'm not sure that a comparison video would really tell the whole story. As a user of ArtCAM since v5.5 and Aspire since its inception - they're similar in a lot of ways, but different. I would say that Aspire is probably easier to learn if you aren't already familiar with this type of CAD/CAM. I have a lot of jewelers who use my scanning services that still use ArtCAM (because of the Jewelsmith functionality) - so CarveCo is a real life line for those guys. I also have a lot of 'old' CNC guys who cut their teeth on the DelCAM stuff that still use ArtCAM because they didn't see the need to learn a new program.

As a power user of both programs - they each have their place and both are very capable. Both are fairly unique in the CAD/CAM world since they give you the ability to sculpt your 3D model using voxels (3D pixels) - which allows complete free form control over your model. This lets you retain all of the organic character of your model - including a slip of the chisel or fine surface texture, if that's the artist's intention, without the cold, hard-edged plastic shapes typical of most other CAD programs, like F360 or say Rhino.

The 2-sided functionality in the newer versions of VCP and Aspire and rotary axis operations are very good and easy to set up. The advanced toolpathing options in CarveCo can drastically improve the finish quality of certain types of reliefs. They each bring their own set of tools to the party. I know that probably doesn't offer a whole lot of clarity - but I don't think you can sum it all up in a Chevy vs Ford debate. I also don't think that you necessarily have to chose one over the other...you can use both and there is a lot of cross over between the two with similar hotkeys and general workflow.

FYI - It was a full $9,000 back in 2008 for ArtCAM with ArtREAD and a dongle. CarveCo is $1,600 right now. It's essentially the top version of the last iteration of ArtCAM 2018 Premium with ArtREAD and all the Jewelsmith functionality. For me, it's a steal - and I can keep on supporting my ArtCAM customers going forward. If you're a CNC professional (or CNC junkie) - it's definitely worth having a look.

[robtown]

I've never worked with Aspire, and haven't worked with any Delcam products for years.
I've had my eye on Aspire (as a CNC junkie, no longer a professional) for quite some time.
The fact that Carveco is currently $400.00 less is a huge motivator, as is the fact that Autodesk is no longer producing it.

[Brady Watson]

Response about CarveCo moved from here

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/sho...341#post204341

Thanks.
I'm strongly considering buying Carveco.
Both programs are obviously very full featured and capable.
I was just curious to know if you had made a conscious decision to use one over the other for any particular reason.

To expand on my reasons for being so interested.
Aspire has been on my "gonna buy" since I did my machine makeover at the end of last year. It's price is it's price. The intro pricing on CarveCo is why I suddenly feel a sense of urgency.

What kind of work exactly are you expecting to do in either software that you are not doing now?

Either one will most likely do everything that you want. There's a very thin sliver of power users out there that would benefit from using one over the other. Compare the interface & feature lists between the two and pick one.

Everyone has their own reasons for buying a certain brand tool. Some are ok with Ryobi while others have to have top of the line. The most expensive thing you can do is buy the cheap one and then realize you hate it and have to get the other one...so you wind up spending twice as much. This is why I never let price be the ultimate decision maker for any tool.

I think it's important to mention, just like a CNC, the software comes with ZERO talent. Buying one over the other doesn't matter. If you don't truly do the work and spend the time to learn the software, without fooling yourself, you'll be stuck in dilbert land cutting pre-made 3D clip art and not much else 3D... (The bar has gotten lower over the years - sorry 3D clipart you flooded in polyurethane ain't "it")

If all you need to do is cut 3D and not actually create or modify 3D reliefs, then VCP has all the bases covered for 1/3 the price of Aspire and half the price of CarveCo...

What do you really need?