Regardless of Mach3 Demo’s ability to use THC, the added number of lines needed to specify heights and delays would likely increase the tap past the 500 line limit for anything but the simplest cuts.
@swizcore @jamesdhatch I appreciate the replies, but I didn’t buy two plasma tables to cut squares and circles. While my parts aren’t overly complex, I nest smaller parts to consume an entire 2’x4’ plate. I’ve never needed more than 500 lines because I limit it to smaller groupings, since I can only feasibly cut on 1/3rd of the plate at a time before needing to reposition it. But, lines are lines, it doesn’t matter the shape, and I’ve not needed more than 500 yet.
If the THC usage adds lines, ok, great, and thanks for the heads up…never used the feature so I wouldn’t have known. But, you guys are missing the question. I was just asking for confirmation from LS if the Mach3 license is required to use THC because I didn’t see it mentioned on the LS website, and I purchased it based on Mach3’s information that I looked up separately. Might be important for purchasers to know that it’s required to use a $400 add-on, don’t you think? I just want to confirm I’m buying the license to utilize a feature. I don’t need support for over 500 lines…unless THC usage bloats my tap files…and even then, I can reduce my cuts anyway to accommodate. I’m more likely to hit my duty cycle on my cutter before 500 lines, so if I don’t need the license, then I don’t want to buy it.
1 Like
You’re the first person here who has been able to say that. 
But not needing more than 500 lines is irrelevant. You are correct that the Demo mode disables THC support. If you’re buying the Pro for THC then you need the paid license.
What’s not clear is if Demo mode supports initial height sensing or if they lump that into THC functions. @langmuir-daniel is probably best able to answer that. They may have to test it with their Pro table and a new install of the Demo version of Mach3.
Thanks, that’s the confirmation I’m looking for. Main thing was to see if I can save $125, lol.
That’s not to say I haven’t run into the line limit before, but maybe the better way to say it is that it’s the least restrictive part of my cuts (envelope size and duty cycle being more limiting). I think the one or two times I’ve hit the limit, the workaround was trivial, so perhaps I’ve just learned to live with it, too. The THC is just really what I need. I’ve accidentally grounded the tip a couple times for failure to check clearances on longer pieces that span long plate warps. The Pro table will afford larger/longer sized pieces, but I doubt the complexity of my parts will increase dramatically. Still, it’ll be nice to have no limit, but yeah, it’s just not been an issue over the last year.
Thanks again for the input.
1 Like
That and the size were my drivers. The Hypertherm prefers a different pierce height vs cut height. Now I just use the cut height setting. Consumables suffer so I have to replace them more often than I will with the Pro.
The bigger size also means I can lay out & cut 2 aux fuel tanks at the same time. That will speed up tank production.
just a heads-up, if you ever release a pipe cutting upgrade i will sign up for it in a second!
looking forward to my pro shipment in January!!
2 Likes
Exactly. THC and size. I get my plates sheared down to 2’ x 4’, but it’s still a little wasteful and just requires too much repositioning to work within 25" x 23". I’ll be able to get my 8’ plates sheared into 3rds instead of 4ths, save a little on cuts, scrap less, and the wider envelope just opens up some new opportunities for me…all at an unbeatable price. Bigger squares and circles await! 
1 Like
All looks great. But these changes to Fusion 360 don’t seem very clear. So if I’m using it in my business (sub 100k a year) will it still be free for a small business or no?
Sounds like if you make over a grand total sales (doesn’t matter if fusion was used for 1% or 99% of product) They’ll charge ya $500 a year?
@langmuir-mike is it still possible to add the THC to our order if we did not order it at the initial purchase?
I’m in Batch 1 and already stretched by hobbyist budget, so I did not include THC. Will it be possible to add THC at a future date?
Maybe. If they decide you’re doing something innovative as someone else just reported - he said he was called after he submitted his info. I haven’t had to renew yet so don’t have first-hand knowledge yet.
Yes under the “hobby business” exclusion for commercial work that’s in the personal license. If you do $1000 from Fusion supported work but more than that from on Fusion related work, it would be simple enough to setup your license under “Fred’s 3D Plasma Cuts” vs your normal “Fred’s Plasma Cuts” name.
You could also just use Inkscape (free) for design and Sheetcam ($150) for toolpath/GCode instead of Fusion @$500/yr.
If you need 3D capability but not necessarily the tricky cool stuff that the Fusion sheet metal handling does for example, you could try SketchUp Free and export your 2D faces to SVG format to then use Sheetcam to path & generate G-Code.
1 Like
Yes- definitely, you can purchase add-one at any time.
Yep! You can purchase add-one at any time.
Could someone clarify a couple questions for me as I’m new to langmuir products.
Can I use solidworks software with the CrossFire Pro? I’m used to creating .dxf where mach 3 is .tap.
Is there a reliable file converter for these file types?
As a hobbyist (no plans to profit from table) with THC option, replies to date make it sound like I will have to purchase a pro license of Mach 3, can this be confirmed, denied, or explained in full detail.
When the router gantry becomes available will it be compatible with the torch or will they need to be swapped for use?
What is the max table load with water table?
You need some application to take your DXF file, define toolpaths and generate G-Code into a tap file. Solidworks won’t do that.
Your options generally are Fusion 360 or Sheetcam. Fusion may be free depending on your use of $650/yr. Sheetcam will cost you about $150.
Your usage as a hobbyist (no sales or profit) has no impact on the need for Mach3’s license (vs free Demo version). Complex projects will exceed the 500 line limit that the Demo version is limited to. If you’re using THC then you will need the licensed version of Mach3 too - THC is disabled in the Demo version. That’s $175 for the license.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but you shouldn’t need to program THC movements in Mach 3. The point of THC is to dynamically adjust the torch height based on voltage sensing, to accommodate to warped / warping material due to the heat. There’s no way you could program in how a sheet warps while its being cut.
No, but you do tell it things like lift height between cuts and can (although not so easy in Fusion) get very granular about the order of specific cuts in a toolpath - Sheetcam has good support for that (and all sorts of advanced stuff you can do for acceleration/deceleration for corners, curves, etc).
1 Like
I got fed up with Fusion 360 and went with Sheetcam and Qcad. I love both!
Fusion is OK if you are into 3D. In my case 2D is just fine.
1 Like
Thanks I’ll give that a try
Great, you can have the left ones. They’re shipping from the right…LOL.
1 Like