ICAM and CGTECH special offers

[crazy^millman]

Just saw this article today. It's an add-in, but run in Mcam for G code verification.

https://www.mmsonline.com/news/mastercam-integrates-machine-simulation-add-on-from-camwerk

This has been around for almost 15 years now maybe even 20. I have some of the original NC2 files from 2008 for some machines. Another Mastercam Dealer that has built their own take on things like the group at Moduleworks did.

[crazy^millman]

And here is what that gets us all.

Dear Ronald,

CGTech has always been a stable and reliable business partner. One of our main missions is to continuously provide value for our customers, as a sustainable business partner in innovations, solutions and productivity.
 
However, we are in an extraordinary economic situation, where we are seeing price dynamics around the world. These developments affect everyone across most markets and segments, and are also a challenge for CGTech. To adapt to these conditions, we will be introducing a modest price increase in 2023.
 
Our revised 2023 pricing will be valid from April 1st, 2023. This price increase applies to the Verification and Machine Simulation modules, and may affect your maintenance renewal for the upcoming year.
 
Our mission remains, and we will continue to focus on delivering the utmost value to our customers and partners.
 
Please contact your CGTech Sales Representative if you have any questions:

Modest Price increase? The 15% to 17% was not enough on maintenance, but now we are getting a modest price increase also.       

[CNCAppsJames]

Most of the things we all buy have gone up 25% or more. Sucks.

[G10X0Y0Z0]

I didn't know Mastercam's Simulator could simulate code, found out talking to Postability.
I have been using Postability's UMC-750 Package with great success.
The Post and Simulator are linked, it runs the post in the background and then simulates that code.

MasterCAM's simulator only simulates the NCI code even though it uses the post for the simulation. It will show collisions, over travel etc., if it is set up properly. It will not check the posted NC code as VERICUT does.
Its kinda like the Fox watching the hen house.

[TSmcam]

MasterCAM's simulator only simulates the NCI code even though it uses the post for the simulation. It will show collisions, over travel etc., if it is set up properly. It will not check the posted NC code as VERICUT does.
Its kinda like the Fox watching the hen house.

When I went to TopSolid, I was (pleasantly) surprised at the accuracy of the kinematic simulation. That, and the fact the post processors are closely tied to the machine, make the simulation very accurate (but still not genuine g-code simulation/verification). For full simultaneous 5 axis, I still used Vericut, but for 3 axis, and 3+2, I can safely rely on the TopSolid simulation (though I can benefit from the Vericut reporting tools )

[TSmcam]

Most of the things we all buy have gone up 25% or more. Sucks.

Yes, it does suck. To be honest, in some cases, I think some companies could actually gain sales by reducing prices. But it seems to be a case of just heading upwards instead.

[CNCAppsJames]

Certain unnamed software companies could DEFINITELY increase sales and gain market share if they would reduce certain pricing aspects related to their total cost of ownership.

What do I know. I just sit back and watch the carnage ensue. 

[TSmcam]

Certain unnamed software companies could DEFINITELY increase sales and gain market share if they would reduce certain pricing aspects related to their total cost of ownership.

What do I know. I just sit back and watch the carnage ensue.

Yeah. Unfortunately, I think it is case of bigger masters want a return on their "investment", and think the easiest way is to turn up the price heat. Shame really.

[JParis]

and think the easiest way is to turn up the price heat. Shame really.

We had a single HASP remaining that had a Mill 3 seat only....We have more users than our current 6 Mill seat can support and the HASP was a legacy from now retired Bossman so that he could work from home occasionally...

We I worked for a reseller, the fee to move a license from a Hasp to the network hasp was usually around $200.....

Let's just say when I git the quote to move it to the software network server, it was more than 8x's that cost....just for moving one, already had license to a different for of licensing.

While that's not big money, I still nearly choked....

As we're looking at adding 3 - Mill 2D seats, we were informed that there was a "price increase" at the end of the year as well...

It's really maddening, because of the type of work we do, we have many "fixed price contracts".....everything goes up and the manufacturer can't raise prices as their costs increase across the board.

[TSmcam]

I'll hazzard a guess....and that's maddening because i bet your company rarely speaks with the reseller from one year to the next.
Except for invoice/payment time.
All that unused "paid for support" time is a huge win for the reseller....yet it looks like that's not factored in come invoice time....

Our Mastercam reseller used to send the maintenance invoice with a "Payment Due Now" at the bottom. And you are correct, the only time we would hear from him was at Maintenance invoice time.

Other than the odd badly worded statements at the top of a forwarded email...

Or the two times he sent us hasp codes that were .MHT files (basically he just saved the web page from which the code was generated rather than the code itself). He blamed me for it not working, and then told me I had to update windows, and the hasp driver so that the maintenance codes could be recognised.

Even CNC Software admitted he didn't know what he was doing, and they sent me the correct codes. Dang I am glad I don't have to deal with that anymore. LOL

[gcode]

As this thread is titled Special Offers, I though I'd put this here
since this is a really special offer as in bend over, here it comes
This quote was part of an email I received from Draftsight inviting me to a webinar about "licensing options"
It included this

As you may know, one of the major CAD software providers is making some changes to its licensing model as of February 7, 2023. These changes will have a significant impact on companies that use network licensing, as they will now be required to purchase individual licenses for all users.

I'm wondering who they are referring too.
I know you've had to buy an individual license for each user for Catia V6 for some time.

Anyone know who they are talking about here.

[JParis]

Anyone know who they are talking about here.

I don't but this sounds like an AD move...

[gcode]

I don't but this sounds like an AD move...

or Dassault is going to roll the V6 licensing policy back to include V5, cause people are not upgrading to V6

[CNCAppsJames]

I don't but this sounds like an AD move...

AD's already done that. There have been no new licensing situations from them since the elimination of perpetual licensing updates.

CATIA seems ripe for that kind of notice. They've been trying to get people to migrate to V6 with little to no success. I remember when they were trying to get people to migrate from V4 and UNIX to V5 and Windows. That seemed to be a 10 year process IIRC. V6 doesn't seem to be going any quicker.

[mkd]

IMS out of Massachusetts is also offering a post/simulation product that I believe leverages the module works engine.