Machsupport Forum

Third party software and hardware support forums. => Third party software and hardware support forums. => Topic started by: anthony_lu on May 23, 2012, 05:01:56 AM

Title: Tiny computer for MACH
Post by: anthony_lu on May 23, 2012, 05:01:56 AM
The tiny embedded computer (1x  Printer port and GPIO) special for CNC,
support Windows XP and MACH 3
NCBox-189 that comes with 1 GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, CF slot (bootable), 3 x USB, LAN, VGA, PS/2, LPT port and additional GPIO, 5V to 24V
size : 115 x 115 x 35 mm (palm size)

just design to produce, not sure evryone will require ture LPT port and also embedded design. anyinput are welcom

(http://www.roboard.com/temp/ncbox/NCBox-top.JPG)

(http://www.roboard.com/temp/ncbox/NCBox-bot.JPG)

(http://www.roboard.com/temp/ncbox/mach3.JPG)

see demo video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y62wvJkrIag

just lead to produce, not sure everyone require ture LPT port and also embedded design.
anyinput are welcom thanks
Anthony Lu, Taiwan

Title: Re: Tiny computer for MACH
Post by: bermantx1 on October 22, 2017, 08:38:25 PM
Having hard time getting win xp on NCBox-189.  Has anyone done this? Can you give any links for files.
Title: Re: Tiny computer for MACH
Post by: joeaverage on October 22, 2017, 09:41:39 PM
Hi,
I run a dual Atom mini-ITX board similar to this:
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=47#D2550HN (http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=47#D2550HN)
with Windows7 32 bit and ran the in-built PP and one PP on a PCI expansion card, no trouble.

If you want little PCs have a look at the Latte Panda and the Udoo X86 boards. Do yourself a favour and get an external motion controller like a Smoothstepper,
the computing platforms that can then be used increases dramatically and with way fewer hiccups than a PP machine.

http://www.lattepanda.com/ (http://www.lattepanda.com/)
https://www.udoo.org/udoo-x86/ (https://www.udoo.org/udoo-x86/)

Craig
Title: Re: Tiny computer for MACH
Post by: bermantx1 on October 23, 2017, 08:29:47 PM
I was hoping to use the ncbox due to shop not having AC - moisture problems - and thought once I got it running would be easy to have extra hard drives on hand and would work on new box. Setting up new desk top is tedious at best. What with different addresses to find or guess at.

Has no one tried one of these????
Title: Re: Tiny computer for MACH
Post by: joeaverage on October 23, 2017, 10:15:13 PM
Hi,
this little device has way less grunt than my dual core Atom. My Atom is fine but its slow to load and draw the
toolpath of large files. A 5meg PCB routing file can take two minutes plus to load/draw. Are you sure you want
to go for an even smaller/slower device?

Certainly if I were buying again I would go for a bit more grunt, a Celeron or a Pentium. Wouldn't bother with
more than 4gig RAM, my little Atom has 4gig but can only use 3gig, its enough.

Craig
Title: Re: Tiny computer for MACH
Post by: bermantx1 on October 23, 2017, 10:28:32 PM
which one do you have? have 2 parallel ports? Need second port for THC.
Title: Re: Tiny computer for MACH
Post by: joeaverage on October 23, 2017, 11:40:01 PM
Hi,
the Atom has one built-in PP and I fitted a PCI card with a second port and ran like that for about three years with Mach3.
About a year ago I stepped up to a Smoothstepper and Mach4 but on the same Atom PC.

The Smoothstepper will run pretty sweetly with just about any PC whereas PP's can be very picky about which
PC they run on.

Craig