Have Inventables killed Easel Pro?

[@warrenking1815]

Well done James, all the software company's are gradually doing this . So far I am sticking with inkscape, UGS, lightburn and carbide create.

[@paullyie82]

Great Video James, and you hit on a lot of the key points there. I was already struggling to justify paying for Pro as I only have a 3018 and was not using it full time or for a business (it was more as a hobby to cut and 2D engrave a few small bits every now and then for my wife that does a few crafts fairs, that's it) So when the price increase email arrived that was the nod to say no cannot justify $288 for effectively hobby software. Easel is great and very easy to use, I will try the Carveco Maker trial - my fear is having to learn a whole new tool all over. Thanks again 👍

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Dont get me wrong, Carveco is more complicated to learn as its as more professional setup but you can do so much more in there and have much greater control over everything

[@woodman72265]

Well said James. Thanks for speaking up for the community. I am an EaselPro subscriber, but I’m new to CNC. As I’ve learned more, I’ve been disappointed with the competitive feature gap you mention, and Inventables low feature velocity. I’m on the fence on what I’ll do. Thanks for highlighting options. Love your channel and content. I’m a subscriber.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Thanks Woody. Whether you stay with Easel or not, I hope you find something that works for you

[@michaelamos4913]

Thanks for the video, software is an issue im having right now, ur video was very helpful. thanks again

[@fossfix]

Thanks Jame another very informative video as a newbie to CNC you are defiantly helping me chose the best options for what i want to do with my CNC. THANKS

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Glad to help

[@jimdrennan_signsonthetyne]

Thanks for giving your thoughts on this James.I will be taking your advice with regards to switching to a cheaper but just as good if not maybe better alternative.Cheers

[@Joe_1776]

While I have used easel, since I began my journey into cncing, I can't justify this price increase when there is plenty of free and cheaper software available that does just, as much and more. It's sad to see this happen regardless. Edit: After seeing the rest of the video, you said the same. Lol

[@jigsey.]

I tried carveco maker, couldn't get used to it...will you be doing a tutorial, I might try I again

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Something on my list for the new year 👍

[@jetsonIFY]

I just started watching your videos after subscribing last month. Still trying to make friends with my new 3018 pro. Trying to get it to engrave letters and numbers on a aluminum tube. So far I have learned design in easel then export to candle or UGS. I still cannot actually do that, I just have it written in my notebook from watching your videos. If I could just get it to engrave IH1001. Thank you for your videos and have a merry X Mass!! Jeffs Firearm Service LLC. Edmond, Oklahoma. USA.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Hope you get it all working Jeff but happy to help where I can

[@opie7afe]

Have you tried f-engrave? Im learning it and the machine but im trying to do small letters like 0.100 tall letters for pew engravings. Just having issues with ugs resizing the size for whatever reason but think i got it figured out by making it larger than needed in f engrave and should be ok maybe.

[@mikeweber186]

This guy is knowledgeable, by I can only understand about a third of what he is saying, have someone do the video that people can understand.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

🤣 wow, such a kind comment. Well it's only me, I can't afford anyone else. My audio quality has got a lot better since I did this video though 👍

[@patrickbayly703]

Personally I think James does a great job- he explains things clearly and his production values are really good. We are lucky to have someone help us newbies. He has helped me to have a positive experience with my CNC.

[@ernest-pj2du]

Are you from Timbuktu,if that’s the case ask someone from there to do the narrative, I can understand him perfectly.

[@ChuckAloha]

Thank you James well said! Once my pro account ends I will change.

[@crystalm4997]

I tried the free easel, I might have done a one month pro when I started with my sans art but now I use carveco and do the month to month. I found it worked better for me with design / tool pathing and I’m now using the fox 4040

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

That's awesome!

[@patrickbayly703]

Any news on the CNC version of lightburn that is rumoured to be coming out soon?

[@robmills4709]

Thanks James, well said. Honary Yorkshireman. Sounds totally unjustified, great alternatives suggested.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Thanks :)

[@Loasdrums2]

With everything else going up I'm not surprised. Likely they are the first to raise prices. Maybe they set the bar for the competition to keep their prices just below them.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

I think prices rises are part of life these days but a 50% increase is mental. I didnt speak Vectric before doing thus video but did speak with Carveco, they have no price rises planed at the moment

[@banjerlegs3051]

All who don’t like the price increase, myself included, should email and state our displeasure. Like you said, we are paying more for what we already have and nothing is groundbreaking that Easel offers. Thanks for the vid!

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Well said!

[@jigsey.]

If I could afford 450, I'd buy vectric cut3d

[@stevemcnerney]

Thanks for another great video. Something that is often forgotten in comparison videos is that only Easel works with Mac. You have to have a PC for the other two.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

That is very true, good point Steve 👍

[@chrisbaylis4733]

This is what makes it for me, web based. I have marker too, but my partner can do file setup on the Mac and I can then run using windows in the garage..

[@vindiandy]

Used easel twice before I got my machine to "have a play|" found it far too basic. once I got carveco maker, which I got with the machine, and watched their tutorial videos I fund this was more the sort of thing I was expecting and better suited what I was trying to achieve. As a former colleague of mine said when talking about a basic PLC progamming software, its a bit fisher price.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Fisher price is what some people require but you are right, it can be a little simplistic. It can be a great starting point for some people but a lot do move away

[@JohnGSchickler]

I am looking at Inkscape an then using that Gcode to feed Easel for completion. I am also looking at other software that can export an SVG file to import into Easel. Affinity Photo ($49) can do that but you must make sure that type has been converted into curves. This will be an interesting journey.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

CNC is an interesting journey. Have fun :)

[@ryankatigbak4926]

Hello Sir, The Easel Software is Compatible or can use to any brand of Cnc laser machine?

[@stevethompson3353]

I have a fox Alien 4040 xe, will Carveco Maker work with this cnc Router - and thanks for the quick answers, i will be purchasing this software shortly after your reply - thanks again.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Yes, Carveco will work with pretty much all desktop CNC machine's 👍

[@handengraving6182]

JD, Great stuff. I have learnt a lot from your Videos. Thank you. I'm having an issue with my laser settings on my 3018 PROVER. I would sure appreciate your expertise if you would. When I turn on the Lazar in LaserGRBL to determine the positioning of my Project to the Lazar, the Lazar turns on to 100% POWER and starts to BURN what ever is in its way. For this STEP I do believe the Lazar should only turn on to VERY LOW POWER so it doesn't burn anything, correct?? Then when it starts to do THE BURN the percentage at that point will be what it is set at, IE..40%, 50%, 60%...........to burn the material. How do I go about RESETTING this stage from 100% POWER to VERY LOW POWER % percentage so I can position my project correctly and not have burn makes on my project before I start the actual burn?

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Power is typically controlled by your $30 setting on your control board and the Smax value in the software, they should be the same.

[@handengraving6182]

@@JamesDeanDesigns Thank you very much for getting back to me JD. I am a beginner and a retired senior just getting into this. I need to find some more in-depth information somewhere. Any suggestions please. I don't understand your reply. Thank you for your wonderful efforts though. Have a Great Day. Kind Regards, Lenny

[@kristopherhilton8065]

I have carveco I pay for and easel pro that came free for 3 years with my X-carve. Definitely like carve cos ability to do more but it does require a ton more practice to get the hand of and its hard to find good tutorials.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Yes that is true. Takes a little longer to get your head around how certain things work

[@SethCNC]

My opinion, their intended customer base (the less technical cnc owners) will keep using it. Some people just need the over simplicity of Easel. Do you think more ppl would keep Easel if they could do 3d reliefs in it.. and if it could use ball and tapered ball bits? 😉

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

I think a lot of people getting into CNC, see the fancy 3D reliefs and aim for that as a pinnacle of sorts. Albeit not as easy to make profit from unless you've found the right market. DAMN! I specifically wanted to mention tapered ball nose bits as and forgot! Oh well too late now 😆

[@jthowson]

Sucks that its not MAC compatible it looks nice O-WELL (Caveco)

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

@jthowson sadly neither of the top 2 cnc software providers cover macs. But here are ways around it. This may help you kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp2Vn4KVm7enmNk

[@jthowson]

@@JamesDeanDesigns Im downloading a VR windows to my MAC as we speak. I really hate window. But easel just dont cut it much anymore and F-360 is to complicated setting up the tool paths. Thanks

[@stevethompson3353]

Does the Carveco Maker 15.00 Subscription do 3d carving.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Yes, allows you to do 3D carvings and come with an inbuilt library of ready to go

[@tommc49]

You didn't mention an important point (to me) which is that Carveco is only available for Windows only. Leaves us Mac users out. Yes, I know I could by a fairly inexpensive Windows laptop to dedicate to the 3018, but since this is only a hobby of me, it's hard to justify. I'm surprised they don't have a Mac version as their are a lot of designers and artists that use Macs. Do you know of any software for CNC that runs on a Mac? (other than Easel)

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

No I didn't but I understand a lot of people get around it by running a virtual Windows machines. It's a difficult one but I think traditionally most people who used to have CNC machines would have Windows machine to run them. Appreciate things have moved on a little now but I know Mac users still only account for a small amount of users and for software to be adjusted to that platform probably costs them more than that market would generate. That's just my thoughts, I don't know how true it is

[@tommc49]

@@JamesDeanDesigns I have used a virtual machine in the past but it gets expensive. You have to buy the virtual software and you have to own a current version of Windows. Actually cheaper to buy a used laptop with Windows.

[@brettvillar5346]

@@tommc49 I'm in a similar position plus the added obstacle of having the newest model Mac with the M1 processor. Lot of software hasn't caught up to the change in the processor architecture. I am also running a virtual machine (parallels with windows 11) because I do have various software that I do use regularly that are only windows based. As far as the cost, yes definitely not worth paying for Parallels if you are only intending to run 1 or 2 programs on it. Another benefit I recently starting making use of with Parallels is the "Access" which is remote logins to your other device. I connected on old windows tablet to my 3018 and once I start running my gcode, I can use my iPad or laptop to remote in and monitor it's progress for the time being. But soon plan to eliminate that tablet serial connect and run UGS from my Mac and sent it directly over WiFi to the 3018 via Arduino wifi controller.

[@axelSixtySix]

It's time to switch to Kiri:Moto 👍

[@wijayaratnelindara4413]

👍

[@jujhaarai]

Cnc machine maestro

[@ChatBot1337]

I used Easel, admittedly only the free trial, for a week then decided to try Maker. Maker is cheaper and a hell of a lot more powerful. $15 for Maker or $24 for Hasbro..er..Easel? Derrr. Even seeing how restricted free Easel is, i.e. nonexistent bit selection, I'm not shocked to learn how greedy they believe they are entitled to be.

[@samuelsmall8449]

I'm leaving Easel.

[@FuzzyScaredyCat]

vcarve pro might be a much better option.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Vectric make good software, and Vcarve Pro in my opinion is better than Easel Pro. Its just a case of weighing up what features you want from the software and how much you're willing to spend,

[@FuzzyScaredyCat]

@@JamesDeanDesigns yeah, I agree on price but you recently reviewed that foxalien £2k CNC so 1/4 of the price isn't too bad given how flexible it is. Mind you it does mean I have to buy a Windows machine to run it on too 😔 I am however totally against the subscription model for software like this.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

@@FuzzyScaredyCat definitely, and I think if you are doing this commercially then I fully justify the costs of things like Aspire. I was against subscription software as well, I use Adobe every day and they were one of the first to go down that route. It just seems the way of the world now so I gave up resisting 😕

[@macp721]

what is the work around because about to trash my xcave pro. Can't complete any of my projects. this should be free. We Should boycott their product and put them out of business

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

You used to get 5 free Pro days a month, so you would just use multiple accounts to get you through but they have since stopped this. So of it comes to paying for software then you may as well go with Carveco Maker which is a lot cheaper and a lot more powerful

[@JohnColgan.]

I think they shot themselves in the foot !! They will lose incom. I'm sure there are (were) more Easel users than X-Carve owners!

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

That's what I thought. The 3018's have boomed over the last few years

[@Jaloja]

In my humble and most accurate opinion...the rest of the companies offering are over priced and its just greed gouging. Lets rename it for the price increase. Evil Pro.. Odds are if you revisited this subject next year which you should all the points shall be known.. I think I know how its going to be and if I'm wrong I can live with that. I doubt I will be wrong.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

I doubt I'll be wrong either, that would be a lot of development for it to catch up with Carveco and even then it will still be a lot more expensive

[@JohnGSchickler]

Exactly why I am looking at open source software to create either g-code or SVG files that can be imprted into the free Easel.