Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 30, 2013, 07:59:55 AM »

Cool. Glsd you figured it out.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: New computer questions

« on: January 28, 2013, 09:53:28 PM »

Good luck and don't forgot thermal compound. That's a pretty good price for the OS. I'm not familiar with running Mach3 on Windows 7 so can't really offer any advice there. I have it installed on an XP laptop connected to my CNC machine. I also have it on this laptop with Windows 7 Pro 64-bit but I don't use it on here. I put it on here when I first got it so I could mess around with it while I sit here watching TV. I have ran simulations on it without any problems but that's about it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: New computer questions

« on: January 28, 2013, 08:47:31 PM »

Try tigerdirect.com. I buy from them all the time. Pretty good prices. You can usually get a barebones kit from them for about $200-250 with no OS. I just put a server together today from parts I ordered last week. Installed the OS and had it running before I left work today.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 11:52:27 PM »

Formatting and deleting partitions is not the same as wiping a drive. Re-formatting a drive does not delete the old files, only the pointers that show where the files are. Think of it as a book. The Master File Table is the index of the book. When you delete a file it only erases the 'index' entry and lists it as being available to write to, but the page of the book is still there and still has all of the data. This is where computer forensics comes in . Formatting a drive only re-writes the Master File Table and readies it for use.

Wiping a hard drive has fixed installation issues about 3 or 4 times now for me. The two software solutions I mentioned (Active Killdisk and DBAN) are both free downloads. You will have to burn them to a CD and boot to the CD and follow the prompts. I have only used DBAN a few times but have used Active Killdisk probably over 100 times. When conducting a forensic examination we must forensically wipe our destination drive prior to loading our evidentiary image to it. Formatting doesn't cut it.

Headed to bed now but let me know if you have any questions and I will try to answer them in the morning.

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 11:08:50 PM »

You might want to try wiping the old hard drive and then installing. I am a Systems Administrator and also have a degree in Computer Forensics. Computer Forensics relies heavily on file structures and how the operating systems works with files. I have had a few instances of re-installing Windows XP over a copy that had issues and at times have ran into problems. After wiping the hard drive using DBAN (Dariks Boot and Nuke) or Active Killdisk, XP installed perfectly. My 'educated' guess tells me that when re-installing an OS, some of the old files are re-used and not write new ones over them. Wiping a drive will write all 0's to the drive, basically resetting it to unused condition.

Can't say for sure that it will fix your problem but worth a try. FWIW - XP is arguably the most reliable operating system Microsoft has produced. Windows 7 has been very good also.

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General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 11:08:26 PM »

You can run a 32 OS bit on a 64 bit CPU.

7

Share Your GCode / Re: Celtic Cross

« on: January 02, 2013, 11:27:18 PM »

Thanks for the info. I'll hve to work on that

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Share Your GCode / Re: Celtic Cross

« on: January 02, 2013, 09:39:05 PM »

You created those from scratch in Artcam? Or did you import the cross shape and add the textures? I have been teaching myself Mastercam for the past few months with a little help from a CNC guy at work. I tried drawing a plain cross in Artcam but not much luck. Was beginning to think it wasn't possible and I would have to import a plain one and add the features.

9

Share Your GCode / Re: Celtic Cross

« on: January 01, 2013, 09:58:15 PM »

Nice. Thanks. I actually downloaded the one in the link from Ostie01. Started cutting it but broke the only 1/16" ball nose I had. So not looking like I will be able to get it done in time. I have a .060 end mill but not sure how it would turn out. I was trying to rush it to get it all cut tonight so I could stain it tomorrow night.

Thanks again. Maybe someday I can pay it back. Still new to this stuff so just learning.

10

Share Your GCode / Celtic Cross

« on: January 01, 2013, 02:15:50 PM »

Hi all. Looking to make a Celtic Cross for a friend whose father passed away. The services are Thursday and I was going to try to have it done by Thursday morning. I have been looking for g-code or a file that can be converted to create a 3D type cross. I have access to Artcam 2008 and Mastercam X5 or X6. I know it can be created in Artcam but I really haven't used it much and would have a tough time getting it done in time. If somebody has a file that can be opened in one of those that has the reliefs in it already that would be great.

Also,
any sites where users can share their files? I have found a few, including this one, but wondered if there are some I don't know about.

Thanks in advance.