hi , just found out about the new V8 with nesting.
when i do an auto update my sheetcam does not pick it up.
can i do a manual download and update - will it transfer my license automatically.
and where can we get more info and/or training about this.
been waiting for this for a long time.
this will make life so much easier
thanx
cliff
It appears that v8 is a new major update (the first since Iāve used sheetcam) and requires you to purchase a new license. The v7 license doesnāt appear to work.
I have not seen this minor detail noted in any of the advertisements . I also am surprised to not see any sort of discounted price for exist users to upgrade.
correct. v8 does require the purchase of a new v8 license, and there is a price increase to account for the new functions. Note that use of a v7 license on v8 install will NOT throw an error BUT it will ALSO NOT unlock sheetcam for unlimited gcode generation NOR will it unlock the saving of new AutoNesting and 2dCAD files. In retrospect, it is perhaps a mistake not to throw an error when trying to apply a v7 license file to v8.
v8 base code is the v7.1.40 base.
In fact the v7 license purchase choice is no longer available on our www.sheetcam.com website. If anyone needs a replacement v7 license, or has an OEM supplied token to redeem for a v7 license, or is an OEM need more v7 license tokens, then please write to sales@sheetcam.com for the request.
correct. v8 must be explicitly downloaded from our website www.sheetcam.com, download page. At this time, v8 is only available for Windows. We are assessing the linux build, the significant new features are not yet linux enabled.
visit www.sheetcam.com , see the Support / āSupport Manualsā page. There are several videos and new doc to explain the new v8 features and function.
We are working a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) doc to post to this forum and to our website.
Note that Sheetcam v7x for Windows has been removed from download from our website. That was a mistake since oftentimes our v7 customers need the install for a new computer. In the meantime, here are the v7 download links-
Sheetcam v7.1.40 download for Windows
Sheetcam v7.0.21 download for Windows
VC_redist.x86 download for Windows
The VC_redist may also be necessary for your v8 install in some cases.
ok , no problem . do we that have existing licenses just pay an amount for the upgraded version and how much?
this cant be true , how can they
expect us to pay twice for the same product [ sheetcam itself ] while new users benefit the most . they can split the upgrade with users having the choice between the extra functions or not and price accordingly. I for one are happy with my CAD program and wont need theirs - me -only want the Nesting
Iām surprised that nesting and cad werenāt simply added as unlockable features like rotary is. Since the base code is the same.
I guess at some point all software becomes obsolete and unsupported.
At some point they have to set a line. they canāt afford to make all the new features and give them away for free. two versions might be nice however. light and full with the nesting and cad.
Thatās kind of the way v7 was with the unlockable add-ons.
I cannot pre-announce any offers that we donāt already have published, but I can say that an upgrade offer from v7 to v8, qualified for those having purchased v7 in a tbd look-back period, is under consideration at this time.
update: I just learned from HQ that sheetcam will āabsolutely make v8 available for recent purchasers [at] an upgrade priceā¦ [Expect to see the] announcement [via email] in the next week or two, for recent [look-back period TBD] purchasers ā¦ to upgrade to V8ā¦ā.
So us ānon recentā v7 users are outta luck?
@djreiswig , I have advocated a rather deep look-back period of purchases, and also to include those that contribute to sheetcam knowledge sharing and support through forums like this. I donāt know what will ultimately be established for the period or of exceptions. In my opinion, you qualify. Thank you for your assistance wrt knowledge share.
i agree . willing to pay for the nesting as a separate add-on. dont need CAD
@sheetcamCS2 will the licenses for the plugins (eg rotary) stay valid with v8, or do these need to be repurchases also ?
plugin keys are tied to a specific license, so they will have to be purchased with v8 lics or referencing a v8 lic.
thatās a bummer. I recently (last 3 months i believe) bought the rotary license which for a hobby wasnāt cheap.
I love that you added auto nesting but Iāll stick to deepnest with the current upgrade pricing. 
No upgrade pricing is a shame. You have an established base and ~$300 is a brutal kick in our teeth. I spent a consideration amount of time trying to figure out sheetcam over the yers and its vintage process quirks. I run lightburn on our lasers which is simple and easy to pick up. I think its time for me to figure out how to get lightburn running on my Crossfire Pro and be done with it. Iād consider $50, maybe $99 if thereās comprehensive YouTube demonstration videos. Not the 3 2-minute videos that are currently posted. Sheetcam needs to sell me even on the upgrade.
I fooled around with lightburn this afternoon and have the basic version, $99, controlling my Crossfire Pro. No THC though. Iāll try this for awhile and learn about itās limitations. I will say there are thousands of lightburn burn videos explaining just about everything. Sheetcam, just a handful. Itās going to be an uphill battle for sheetcam, I hope you conquer it and are successful.
sheetcam has been around for about 30 years. so yes, the video instruction spans quite a long period of time, but nearly all of it is still applicable. v7 is very stable.
Sadly, v8 is a bit of a misstep in how the two new features of AutoNesting and 2dCAD were functionally limited and integrated. It will improve in due time. v8.0.1 is v7.1.40 in core functionality, with the two new features added.
Agreed that Lightburn is awesome for 2D CAD, and for laser CAM also. I use it for my laser CNC process, CAD/CAM/control.
For plasma and 2.5D milling, I use LB CAD and sheetcam. IMHO, its hard to beat sheetcam for both of those.
If you are attempting to adapt LB for plasma process, this may helpā¦ Update on plasma use case success, albeit post processing gcode - #17 by bLouChip - LightBurn Software Questions - LightBurn Software Forum
Any updates on the discount for existing customers who purchased v7 in the past year.