Yesterday I got to work a Pentium4 @3Ghz with 2Gb of RAM and dedicated graphics card, installed XP, Mach3 and some CAD/CAM software, no internet, no firewall, anything but CNC related Software, it's day and night difference compared with the computer I've got hooked to the machine right now, still have to make some tests with Mach3, but looks promising, Driver Test says everything is ok, and LazyCAM looks quite usable (it crashes my old computer).
Now If i can make it work through Remote Desktop via local net I'll be happy. I plan to build an enclosure for the CNC, a vacuum cleaner and the computer
ruffrecords said:
There is a Linux distribution with real time kernel patches added that is aimed directly at CNC applications; It is called Linux CNC. AFAIK, the Linux Kernel still includes parallel poprt low level drivers. The latest version of Linux CNC is a 'live' one that can even be run from a flash stick. (A live Linux distribution is one that you can boot straight into on any computer that can boot the media and it will run without being installed. It may be slower than if it were installed but it allows you to try it in complete safety). Any modern Linux distribution will install itself alongside windows XP and automatically create you a dual boot menu so you can run either windows or Linux on the machine.
Cheers
Ian
I feel curiosity about LinuxCNC, I've got a unused HD drive I could use to install it. being a Mac/Ubuntu user for the last 20 years doesn't make easy get used to windows enviroment, but I had enough of dealing with computers by now (the last month I switched my three work computers to Windows 7 - XP and fixed some family computers, I'm a bit tired of installing OS's)
Rochey said:
I'm now thinking about running it with GRBL, with a Octoprint head running on a raspberry pi.
I was about to try GRBL too, but had some issues with Arduino drivers, anyway, at least beeing a newbie, I think it's worth learning Mach3 or similar, I'm not sure if you can change things like feedrate in real time using GRBL, or if you can pause and continue a program if something goes wrong, at least, I think Mach3 gives you a deeper understanding of what's going on