Shopbot software

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello: I am reconnecting a used PRT alpha, 60 x 144 and now, it seems as though I have full motion in the X, Y and Z directions (thanks to the helpful people who participate in this forum!)

My next set of questions involves the software. I will appologize in advance, but to get good feedback, I need to present the required details.

When I bought my used machine, the Windows XP PC that came with it, had the following ShopBot software:
Sb3 Version 3.5.18
SbEdit
ShopBot File Runner
Control Box Loader

Part Wizard is NOT in my PC, and I didn't get any back-up disks with my purchase. The original 2004 documentation with my machine shows that it came with Part Wizard, but somehow the man I bought this from in November of 2009 must have cleaned this out. I bought it so long ago, I don't want to go back to the seller, since he sold it as is.

When I called Shopbot a few weeks ago, they told me that Part Wizard is a long obsolete product, and they recommended I buy the new Vectric product. I would have bought that in a heartbeat, EXCPT that I already own a full seat of Mastercam, with solids modeling and ART. It cost me plenty, and I have been paying maintanence on it for maybe 7 years :(. And, I don't know how to run Mastercam either. (I took a semester class in 2001 in a now long obsolete version, and a month of on-line training 3 years ago, also at considerable expense.)

So, I would like to learn how to run my ShopBot without spending more money right now, which means, I'd like to get a copy of Part Wizard. Then I can just follow along all the detailed directions that came in my ShopBot manual. This seems comforting to me, as I may have to be having to figure this out myself.

After I feel comfortable with creating part files, and running the machine, I will get my Mastercam driver installed. I have invested a huge sum in Mastercam, so I really can't drop it for the Vectric. So this is my situation.

Questions:
1) How do I get a copy of Part Wizard?
2) Am I totally crazy?
3) What are your thoughts on this situation?

My email address is chuck.keysor@sbcglobal.net in case anyone wants to send me direct replies.

Thanks, Chuck

[Gary Campbell]

Chuck...
Even if you were to get a copy of PartWizard, it would not be registered to you, and as such, be pirated. Even the 2007 version of same is easy to throw away, compared to PartWorks.

Your choices seem to be: 1) Learn MasterCam 2) Purchase and learn PartWorks. MasterCam may take substantially longer to learn. PWKs will, in the short run, cost more, but with the training videos and support you should be up and running much sooner than with most any other design program, especially one that has CAM abilities.

To take a look, you can go to www.vectric.com (http://www.vectric.com) and download the free trial of VCarve Pro and look over the tutorials and training materials. VCPro and PWks are the same program, except that PWKS only outputs to a ShopBot.

[Brady Watson]

Buying the PartWorks bundle from ShopBot is the way to go. You will have a whole gamut of users you can ask questions and get answers - Both on this forum & Vectric's. PWorks is a lotta bang for the buck and easy to learn.

Keep MasterCAM in your arsenal for later. Things you'll learn in PWorks will prep you for what MC offers later on.

-B