PCB Library Expert / PCB Footprint Expert not Free anymore?

[SteveOne89]

Dear all,
I just discovered that PCB Library Expert is not available anymore. The new suite is called PCB Footprint Expert and it is available with the following licenses:
- Viewer
- POD
- Pro
- Enterprise

In the past I was able to create a footprint script with its 3D model to be imported in the CAD (Altium). That was free and without any limitation.
Have things changed with the new version?
Is there any limit to the footprint I can export to the CAD?

Thanks!

[jc101]

I don't think it's free for Altium now, but on their forum, they mention exporting to PADS then importing those in Altium.

I buy some POD credits from time to time, then just download parts that I need as the credit never expires.  The POD version can export to all formats.

[SteveOne89]

I don't think it's free for Altium now, but on their forum, they mention exporting to PADS then importing those in Altium.

In this way 3D STEP files are not generated, right?

I buy some POD credits from time to time, then just download parts that I need as the credit never expires.  The POD version can export to all formats.

POD is only meant to build parts downloaded from their website, correct?

[jc101]

In this way 3D STEP files are not generated, right?

Not sure, I've never tried it.  I'd pop a message on their forum or drop them an e-mail, many people are confused about the new versions and what can and cannot be done.  Many are also unhappy that was once free now isn't, for POD use nothing much has changed for me.

I buy some POD credits from time to time, then just download parts that I need as the credit never expires.  The POD version can export to all formats.
POD is only meant to build parts downloaded from their website, correct?

Yes, they have a huge number of parts, and if it isn't there they create it for a few credits.  The parts I asked to be made have been done in a few hours, then they go into the POD database.  I don't mind paying for the POD parts or having some made, it saves me the hassle for anything other than simple parts.  With the caveat that I don't need that many parts, in the last year I've had ~100 parts from them I think.  Once you have them, you can generate them for use in any of their supported CAD programs.

[Feynman]

Footprint Expert Pro is still free, but they disabled the 3D STEP output a couple of weeks ago without notice.
Their weird marketing decisions discouraged me from buying the enterprise version more than once.

[voltsandjolts]

They do have the knack of making what should be a simple enough product range seem overly complicated.
Naming the free version 'Pro' was odd, but maybe they have fixed that now by charging for it!

I see my installed (free) version now refuses to start up, telling me it has expired.
Four figures USD is too much for a footprint generator, but I'm not their target market.

I get by with the Altium IPC footprint generator, GrabCAD and 3D ContentCentral.

[SteveOne89]

I contacted them. It seems to me they are struggling to find the right balance between the features offered with the "real" free version and the paid one.
With the previous version they complain about losing paying customers because "too much was given for free". They are now at the opposite side. We have a "free PRO version better than ever" that is pretty useless, in the end.
I think they should improve their marketing strategy by giving the right value to paying customers and offering a usable tool without any support to hobbyists and people who do not make millions by generating component footprints.