Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: g762 on March 10, 2015, 01:03:48 AM

Title: Using Drawings and Cam programs on a computer running Mach 3
Post by: g762 on March 10, 2015, 01:03:48 AM

I am building a new CNC router, transitioning from linuxcnc to Mach 3.  I will be driving the router  via an ethernet smoothstepper. With my current small router I do all of the cad/cam in the office and then send it via a shared folder to the PC controlling the machine.  Would there be any issue using a single computer to do both, or is this generally seen as a poor practice?   There are times when I would I am iterating the design for a few a simple component rapidly, It involves making changes quickly and doing test cuts,  Say making a new cut every 10 minutes, switching computers has been a real hassle.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Using Drawings and Cam programs on a computer running Mach 3
Post by: dude1 on March 10, 2015, 02:48:11 AM

it pays not to some computers cant handle M3 very well and having a cad program running at the same time can make it worse I have tried it and it was a bad idea on both my machines

Title: Re: Using Drawings and Cam programs on a computer running Mach 3
Post by: RICH on March 10, 2015, 04:33:59 AM

No problems with having CAD, CAM, and other programs installed on the computer.
Just don't use the programs if you are running Mach.
RICH

Title: Re: Using Drawings and Cam programs on a computer running Mach 3
Post by: dude1 on March 10, 2015, 04:54:25 AM

take what rich said over what I said it was my computers yours my be diffrent

Title: Re: Using Drawings and Cam programs on a computer running Mach 3
Post by: geh7552 on March 11, 2015, 05:32:01 PM

You could link the cnc computer with the design pc via file sharing. Just drag and drop the file to the cnc pc. I use that option and it work great. Personally I have found its best to keep the cnc pc just running mach. There was a Youtube video of some guy running mach 3 and checking his email at the same time on a laptop.... he closed the email window and the tool bit crashed into the work. Priceless.

Title: Re: Using Drawings and Cam programs on a computer running Mach 3
Post by: garyhlucas on March 11, 2015, 08:03:16 PM

I run CamBam at the same time as Mach3 with no problem, BUT I do have a motion card driving the motors and I think that would be the difference. It is really really nice to have the Cam program and Alt Tab away from the CNC and you can make a change and repost in a few seconds.  Mach3 remembers the last file you loaded from too.

Title: Re: Using Drawings and Cam programs on a computer running Mach 3
Post by: ger21 on March 11, 2015, 10:48:59 PM

If you're not running the machine while using the programs, then there's no problem at all. Depending on the specs of your computer, you may be able to do both.