[Jewelry making - Article 00263] - Re: [Orchid] CAD/CAM - 3Design vs ArtCam JewelSmith

[Martin James]

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>      Now this is what seems to me pure advertising with no
>     contribution to the general thrust of what Orchid is about.  This
>     should be at the least off line. Or should be paid advertising. And
>     this is the company (person) that sent out annoying personal emails
>     under the pretext that it was an individual asking for help.
>     Troubling! 

    Kevin, I tend to agree with you that blatant and somewhat
    unscrupulous advertising is discomforting, however I am needing more
    information on this emerging technology.  From my own experience as
    a computer user I know that it pays to be very well informed about
    the technology before committing to a purchase.  Several years back
    one of our neighbors purchased a point of sale system for her book
    store.  She spent $30,000, which she later found out was $28,000
    more than a similar, equally problem plagued product. One only has
    to look to the recent software advances in fields like 3D games and
    Video editing to know that revolutionary changes to jewelry specific
    software programs are imminent. 

    One of the reasons there is such variation in the abilities and
    pricing of the available options is because we jewelers, as a
    general rule don't have the time to spend on a steep learning curve.
     For many of us, we need quick return on our investment, so we are
    willing to pay exorbitant rates for what we know is 5 year old
    technology as long as we can make money with our investment. You can
    bet that the recent Emmy and Grammy awards for movies made on Apple
    desktop computers were not using 5 year old software. 

    I am currently working with a relatively simple but effective, and
    profitable 3 axis system, but have yet to settle on the design
    package. I will probably spend 8 hours per week for the next 10
    years working on computer design.  That is about 4000 hours.  I need
    to make the right decision and purchase the right software that will
    keep us on the leading edge of technology. 

    I feel that many of the software developers are accustomed to
    operating in the corporate arena.  Companies like Ford or Lockheed
    have hundreds of designers working together, with special
    departments set up for technology evaluation and training.  With so
    many designers under one roof the developer - user dynamics are so
    much different than in our industry where independent designers are
    the norm.  The software developers simply have not been providing
    the lay person with adequate information to make an informed
    purchasing decision. 

    What I ultimately hope to find is a set of design and RP/milling
    software that is positioned to stay in the forefront of technology. 
    Hopefully a package that runs on various different platforms. When
    Apple abandoned their old operating system and replaced it with the
    new unix based OSX, there were many bugs to be worked out as the
    idea of backwards compatibility was abandoned.  Personally I don't
    need backwards compatibility I want the new stuff. 

    I need extensive video training. When Total Training made their
    Photoshop_5 training tapes, the tutorials were 38 hour long.  Many
    of the techniques they demonstrated are now still relevant years
    later.  I need to see, not only how the software commands work, but
    how those techniques apply to the actual milling or RP of each
    piece.  I enjoy developing new ways of making things. Knowing the
    tips and tricks that others have used is imperative, to innovation. 
    With adequate video training I would soon become a productive
    contributor to the art, instead of another poor soul stuck on the
    learning curve. 

    In December one of the software firms asked for assistance in giving
    away 400 licenses of their software to US schools.  My experience
    with school was that most people attend, not to learn, but because
    they need the piece of paper that proves they submitted to the
    requirements.  Traditionally software companies give discounts and
    freebies to schools and students, it is "standard practice". There
    may be plenty excellent school settings and enthusiastic teachers
    out there, yet the overbearing nature of most educational
    institutions breeds mediocrity.  I am not looking for a long term
    relationship with a "standard business practice" firm.  Rather I
    looking for that company that realizes that business as usual is not
    going to carry us through the rapid changes currently underway in
    this field. 

    So I suggest to these software developers: 

    Put your product in the hands of interested parties who are ready
    and able to use in this technology. Put your product into the hands
    of established artisans whose body of knowledge we celebrate on this
    forum.  Let them, the Orchidians, evaluate and advise on your
    products. 

    It would be easy to look through past posts to make up your lists of
    worthy metal smiths. I suggest we each get a year long trial from
    each of the advertising developers.  Then at years end we will have
    unbiased reports about which package suits which need. 

    I will be ready to start evaluations in September. 

Sincerely Martin


 

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