Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: oldiron on November 18, 2012, 03:14:33 PM
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New guy in the planning stages here. I’m thinking about converting my Supermax with Anilam control to MACH3 using an Ethernet Smoothstepper to control the various drives and I/O. I’ll be using a dedicated computer for the machine control but would like to connect it to the network for file transfers from the other computers running Dolphin CAD/CAM. Should there be 2 Ethernet cards in the machines computer, one dedicated to the Smoothstepper, and one to the main network so other network traffic doesn’t interfere with the machine control. Is that even possible? Any recommendations for a compact computer for in the machine? Thanks Bob
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I think the SmoothStepper requires a dedicated port. I think I remember reading something about that. I'm in the process of setting up an industrial PC on a ESS. I chose a PC with two Ethernet ports. It's a single board PC designed for industrial use. With Win7 embedded, it was around $1300.
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I have all my machines networked to my desktop computer via an 8 port router. I use the ESS on the big lathe and it uses a Via Pico mobo so only one ethernet port and no PCI slots so I used a USB to Ethernet adapter for the network and its fine. On the machine I am currently doing (Chiron FZ12) I will be using a CSMIO/IP-A which again is connected by ethernet to Mach but I will be using an Atom mini ITX mobo which has a PCI slot so will be using a PCI network card in that for the network.
Hood
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Installing a 2nd ethernet card is very simple provided you have an open PCI slot. If you have a standard tower then just find a NIC (ethernet) card that fits the open slots. Computer guys usually have tons of these laying around and will probably give you one. I know I have about 3 or 4 layingg around and have thrown several away just because I had too many. Install the card and the driver and you should be good to go.
I have no experience with the Smoothstepper so I can't answer as to any issues there.
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I think I go with an Intel D2500cce as it has the ports I need and not to many extra I don't. What's your thoughts on a conventional hard drive vs one of the new solid state ones?
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Conventional hard drives last longer, and are cheaper.
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Solid state will last longer in a harsh industrial environment. Moving parts vs no moving parts...logic dictates that solid state would be be better. We have had conventional HD's fail in non temp controlled shop environments.
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DD hard drives hold up better in harsher environments but don't last as long. SS drives use wear leveling to evenly distribute wear. I have hard drives that are over 10 years old and still spinning along. Can't say the same for USB flash drives, and they aren't used every day.
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..... while on the subject of drives, looking to build a compact control cabinet, any experience with using a HDD from a laptop ? Are these long lasting and robust enough ? Lord knows some laptops take quite a licking .... and keep on ticking. (sorry Timex)
Thanks,
Russ
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............ I will be using an Atom mini ITX mobo ............
Hood
Hi Hood,
Care to expand on which particular model you chose ?
I am in the process of obtaining one also and am considering the one Graham used with his CSMIO.
Thanks,
Russ
:)
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Hi Russ, its an ASUS AT5NM10T-I Had it a while now so maybe they are not available any more. My friend got a nice wee Intel mini ITX, cant remember the model but will try and find out.
Regarding the 2.5inch HDD, they are fine, I use them on all my machines and so far not a problem with any.
Hood
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Thanks Hood.
I have several of the little drives on hand.
Is there a special connector for these ? To adapt them to IDE, or SATA to connect them to the MoBo ? (if that makes sense)
Or is circuitry involved .... like a USB external drive ?
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If its a SATA drive it will plug right in with the same power connector and SATA cable that the 3.5 inch drives use. If its an IDE HDD then you will need an adapter like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PC-2-5-Inch-HDD-to-3-5-Inch-IDE-44pin-40pin-Adapter-/140536730135?pt=UK_Computing_Drive_Cables_Adapters&hash=item20b8a45217 to connect it to the IDE plug on the mobo, assuming of course your mobo has IDE.
Hood
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hmmm ... this is one from a clunker I just decommissioned.
Connector is 21mm wide and 2 row. Should this be in the Smithsonian ? ::) ;D
It's 6GB
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Russ thats likely just an adapter for the laptop, unscrew that and I reckon you will have a normal 2.5inch drives IDE there.
Hood
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Oh yes !
Just a flat ribbon connection plastered to the back that goes round to the IDE.
It was stickied quite well so I was afraid to rip it off initially.
Thank you.
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DD hard drives hold up better in harsher environments but don't last as long. SS drives use wear leveling to evenly distribute wear. I have hard drives that are over 10 years old and still spinning along. Can't say the same for USB flash drives, and they aren't used every day.
I'm not talking about a disposable USB flash drive. I'm talking about a real solid state drive. When you need to run a PC over a wide temperature range in a harsh environment, conventional drives will fail before a good solid state drive every time. That said, most people are not running in such a harsh environment that a conventional drive will be a problem. We use the Intel 520 series drives. They range in price from around $200 up $800 depending on capacity.
Just take a look at what Burny, Hypertherm, ProMotion, etc. are using in their controllers. They've done a lot of R&D to develop a controller that is as bullet proof as possible.
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Sorry to ressurect this thread but I see mention of using the intel Atom mobo.
Hood, you mention it has a great stable driver test in 1 thread though you use yours via Ethernet controllers or other. Is it possible that it is a 5 volt output on its PP? I am trying to sort an issue and need a fresh NEW computer but want to use a PP.
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I am trying to sort an issue and need a fresh NEW computer but want to use a PP.
This thread is about 3 year old computers.