Buying or renting an Alphacam licence: a step-by-step guide

The first question most workshops ask when buying Alphacam or extending an existing licence is "how much does Alphacam cost?". There is no single answer: the price depends on the module, level, licence type, number of users and the maintenance and training included, and it also varies by sales channel and period. This article gives no figures. Instead it explains what you need to pin down to get the right quote, how buying outright compares with renting, and what to do once you have the licence. Alphacam is sold through Hexagon's authorised sales channels and authorised resellers; confirm every term below with your own reseller.

Step 1: work out what you need

Being clear about your requirements before talking to a reseller saves you from paying for modules you will not use, and from starting production with a licence that falls short. Answer five questions:

1. Which module? Router for furniture shops working wood, MDF and sheet material; Mill for metal; Stone for stone. How the modules differ: What is Alphacam? A CAD/CAM guide for furniture and wood CNC
2. Which level? Is your work mainly 2D/2.5D (profiles, pockets, drilling, grooves), or do you need 3D surfaces, 5-axis or advanced nesting? Level names and contents vary by version; the parts of a licence are covered in Alphacam licence types explained: modules, licence carriers and terms.
3. How many users? How many people will program at the same time? Concurrent users, not the number of machines, is what counts.
4. Which machine(s)? Every controller needs a post-processor; write down the machine make, model and controller software version (What is an Alphacam post-processor? Producing NC code for your machine).
5. Training? Is the operator new to CAM? Decide whether you want on-site or remote training along with the installation.

Step 2: what to ask for in a quote

To compare two quotes you have to be sure they cover the same items. Send this list to the reseller when you ask for one:

• The exact module and level offered, and any add-on options included.
• Licence type: hardware dongle, node-locked software licence or network (floating) licence.
• Term: perpetual or term/subscription? If term, the length and renewal conditions.
• Maintenance: is the first year included, what are the terms afterwards, and what happens when it lapses?
• Post-processor: is there a ready post for your machine, and if a custom one is needed, what does it cost and how long does it take?
• Installation and training: how many hours, on-site or remote, for how many people.
• Technical support: through which channel, during which hours, in which language?
• Licence transfer: how is the licence moved if the computer is replaced or fails?
• Version: which Alphacam version will be installed, and do the add-ins you use support it?

What determines the Alphacam price?

Do not expect a fixed public price list for Alphacam; quotes are built around your requirements. The main factors are:

When comparing, look beyond the first-year figure to the total cost over three to five years: maintenance on a perpetual licence and annual subscription renewals add up differently over time.

Buy outright or rent (subscribe)?

"Renting" Alphacam usually means a term licence or subscription: the right to use it for a set period. Which model is available for which module and level depends on the sales channel and the period; in general terms they compare like this:

As a rule of thumb: for a shop that will use Alphacam as its main production tool for years and does not need frequent upgrades, a perpetual licence can make sense; for a shop with fluctuating order volumes, a temporary project needing an extra seat, or a wish to keep up-front costs low, a term licence gives flexibility. Settle the decision with your reseller alongside a three-year total cost calculation.

Second-hand and transferred licences: the risks

Every so often a closing workshop, or someone selling a used machine, offers "the Alphacam licence thrown in". Software licences are generally non-transferable, or transfer requires the vendor's approval; without it the licence does not legally pass to the new owner. If you get such an offer:

• Ask whether the transfer can be registered through an authorised reseller or the vendor.
• Find out the maintenance status and which version the licence is stuck on; an old version may not work with a new Windows release or machine.
• If a dongle is being handed over, confirm whom it is registered to and whether it can be replaced if it fails.
• Put the transfer price next to a quote for a new licence or subscription, and weigh the security of a registered, supported, current licence.

Stay away from unofficial sources

Offers online for "cheap Alphacam" or ready-made licence files come from outside the authorised channels. Besides the legal exposure they bring problems that hit production directly: malware, software that stops working without warning, and broken posts that drive the machine incorrectly, with no support or updates. The full story: Alphacam crack: why a cracked licence is a bad deal, the risks and the legal options

After the purchase: installation, posts and add-ins

1. Install and activate: install Alphacam and activate the licence as your reseller directs; archive the licence documents and installers.
2. Post-processor: install your machine's post and test it on scrap board; measure the first cut.
3. Tool library: define your cutters, drills and magazine positions.
4. Auto Style: set up rules that apply machining by layer name (Alphacam Auto Style setup: automatic machining by layer name).
5. Backups: back up the post, Auto Style and tool files under LICOMDIR regularly.
6. Add-ins: install add-ins that speed up repetitive drawing work (doors, panels, cabinet parts) into Alphacam's Startup folder (What is an Alphacam add-in, how is it installed and how does it work?).

If your Alphacam Router licence is in place and your shop is losing time drawing doors, panels or cabinet parts by hand, the macro packages that draw them from dimensions are on the products page.