Messages

7541

General Mach Discussion / Re: Micro computer

« on: March 28, 2015, 02:36:43 AM »

Hi there,
I use a miniITX form factor single board computer based on a dual core Atom CPU and run Windows 7 Embedded as OS. It runs Mach3 a treat.

In order to run Windows (XP or otherwise) you will have to use an X86 platform (note: my assertion and maybe flawed!), ie Intel or AMD are the most
common.

Mach3 does not require an 'ultra processor', indeed it seems from the number of posts that people who try to use the 'latest and greatest' come unstuck and have
problems with the PP driver. Intels Atom range does fine. I believe AMD's G series 'system on a chip' will work too but I haven't tried one....yet.

If you require parallel ports then the choice is somewhat restricted if you determine that you want a built in port on the mother board. I have seen about fifty or so
from various makers with such a port. Commonly such boards will have a PCI expansion slot which allows for a card for a second port. This is exactly what I have
done, no probs.

I chose to use Windows 7 Embedded (Standard) as OS because I wanted to be 'master' of my own system, lol, Windows is not that simple! The local (New Zealand)
supplier who sold me the board also sold me the runtime licence for the OS. As it turns out the supplier was not in fact correct to do so, the licencing of Windows
Embedded is not straight forward. I have seen a number of suppliers who will sell you a built up system with the OS installed. According to their agreement with
Microsoft they are precluded from selling Windows Embedded standalone. They charge about $140 US for the licence component of their system.

If you wish to use a smoothstepper setup the just about every board out there can accommodate that, they all have at least one Ethernet port and up to four USB ports
on the board without expansion cards.

The smallest boards I have seen that  include a PP port and a PCI slot are miniITX, 7"x7". If you don't require PP then look at the Minnowboard V2, about 4"x3".
My miniITX (UMG1 by Unigen in Taiwan) draws about 20W so I run fanless. In fact most Atoms or Gseries chips use less than 10W so fanless or a small fan is fine.
Most will run off a single 12V supply of a few amps. I use an ATX supply simply because I had a near new one lying around.

7542

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: Probotix/Startech/Win7/Mach3/CompaqDesktop...HELP!

« on: March 21, 2015, 03:44:21 AM »

Hi nkavinash,
don't think your serial to parallel port will work. It seems the Mach3 PP driver will work only with PCI cards. I presume it will also work with PCIe cards but
have not read a post which confirms that.

Craig

7543

Third party software and hardware support forums. / Re: standalone Mach3 controller

« on: March 20, 2015, 04:45:00 AM »

There are two new boards for embedded developers/hackers/makers:

Minnow board V2 (Intel dual core Atom) at $140US  (try minnowboard.org)
Gizmo2 board (AMD  dual core G series) at $200US.  (try gizmosphere.org)

Both of these have integrated North and South bridge, CPU cores and GPU, both have Ethernet, HDMI, USB's and micro SD on a 4inch square PCB drawing less than
10W. There are subtle differences too, the Intel offering with SATA2 whereas the AMD one has mSATA.

Both have custom expansion connections, high and low speed with PCIe, SATA, serial of various descriptions, GPIO, CAN, SPI, PWM, video ports etc...
 
These boards are intended to be open source but to date neither has developed the following like the Raspberry and consequently there are few expansion boards about.

If I can find some other enthusiasts I would put my hand up to design an expansion board containing two PCIe slots for parallel port cards.
Maybe it would be better to have two PCIe to parallel chips and bypass the slot. Hey come to think about it maybe build the breakout buffering/logic on the one board and do away
with the parallel cable. Prehaps that's being a bit ambitious!

Craig

7544

Third party software and hardware support forums. / standalone Mach3 controller

« on: March 14, 2015, 03:32:01 AM »

Hi there,
I bought an Atom based single board computer and Windows 7 Embedded about a year ago. It runs Mach3 beautifully.

Since then I have seen a number of boards that would probably make a excellent standalone system for Mach3.

Is there any interest amongst users to collaborate on a project to build such a system or systems which may be of interest/value to the wider
community of Mach3 users?

Craig

7545

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Windows 7 BSOD after exit Mach3

« on: March 04, 2015, 01:20:37 AM »

Hi there,
I use 3.043.066 with Windows 7 Embedded with no problems (except of my own making!).
I think Tweakie is right, your particular platform/OS is the issue.

7546

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach 3 R3.043.066 and Windows 7 problems.

« on: February 28, 2015, 01:56:19 AM »

Hi guys,
I bought a single board computer to run my machine. It is a dual core Atom. The video processing is integrated in the processor. Not quite
sure how it works but it does and better than my XP machine ever did.

7547

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Will Mach3 run on Windows 7

« on: February 05, 2015, 08:29:58 PM »

Hi Jack,
I've been using Mach3 on an Atom based single board computer running a 32 bit copy of Windows 7 Embedded for nearly a year now.
Runs better than my XP machine ever did.
The computer board has one PP built in and I use the PCI slot for another PP, aside from the initial setup probs works great.

Craig

7548

General Mach Discussion / Re: Add-on PCI card or another type of connection?

« on: December 05, 2014, 07:44:55 PM »

Hi Dimitar,
I believe there are other possibilities than using an older PC. I bought an industrial single board computer based on an ATOM CPU and used Windows 7 Embedded
as OS. I am delighted with the results.
A google search for 'industrial single board computer' will reveal dozens of different manufacturers each with a range of products. When I searched I was interested
in boards that offered a PP and at least one PCI slot. Even with that thinning of results there were still plenty of choices. It seems that all offer multiple USB, RS232,
SVGA, HDMI and so on... Most offer alternate power supplies as well, the model I selected has an ATI supply socket and a 12VDC input. If you can't find a combination
that suits it because you can't wade thru the confusion!
The advantage that these products offer is that they are new and commonly use high speced components for reliability, they are after all meant to be embedded into
kiosks, industrial machines and similar where reliability is very important.
In interests of reliability these devices use an embedded OS, you don't want a user accessing the internet on your photo printing kiosk for instance. The Tormach  link
in this thread is well placed. They use Windows XP embedded and mention 15000 components to be managed/included, quite a mission, but a worthy result, namely
a robust OS suited to the task. Windows 7 Embedded Standard is a more recent variation of the same theme and is much easier to author and was therefore my choice.
You can choose 'compatibility mode' and end up with what appears to be a complete Windows 7 OS that you might buy off the shelf or you may choose some minimal
install suited to a controller. The authoring tools are very useful and with a little practice very flexible. Many of the options are for automating production when a
manufacturer is producing thousands of devices and can be ignored by you and I.
My computer has a 64G SSD, I like it, quick and reliable. I use the built in PP and the exact PCI card you mention in the PCI slot with no problems. The drivertest
and oscilloscope show that my controller board is at least five times better than I could ever coax out of my old XP machine. By better I mean reduction in timing
jitter.
I spent about $1200 NZD, say 720 Euro on this setup so its not cheap. Looking back over the purchases I made I realize I could have done much better price wise
seeking out 2nd hand etc on EBAY and depending on how sneaky/dishonest you are with Microsoft! In relation to the amount I've spent on quality components for
my mill it is not to bad.

Craig

7549

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Mach3 support for windows 7?

« on: August 28, 2014, 02:56:14 AM »

Hi GaryM,
if you search for 'industrial single board computer' you will find heaps of manufacturers. Many of the boards they offer have a PP and often expansion slots to add more if you wish. I bought a UMB-1 from a Taiwanese maker UNIGEN and have had no probs. I bought fairly cheaply however. I know ADVANTECH have similar offerings but quite a bit dearer, at least in this part of the world. My board uses a dual core ATOM processor @1.8Ghz and runs Mach3 better than my old XP machine ever did.

Sorry can't help with the USB question as I have never tried. I have yet to exhaust the potential of PP and so don't see the need yet.

Craig

7550

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need a New Mother Board for my Computer

« on: August 13, 2014, 05:38:47 AM »

Hi,
I bought a single board computer mini ITX size (6 inch square roughly) with a dual core ATOM processor, 4G DDR ram and 64 G SSD. Installed Windows 7 Embedded.
I am delighted with the results. The Atom doesn't have a great deal of horsepower but run Mach3 a treat. The board has 1 PP plus the usual selection of USB,CO,COM,HDMI etc. Also has a spare PCI slot and I fitted an extra PP.
I chose a Taiwanese board by UNIGENS on the basis of local (New Zealand) availability and price. Advantech and others have some excellent offerings in the same vein, just search for 'industrial single board computer' and you will be flooded. A lot of them use top quality components for industrial reliability. The wee Atom runs without a fan and off a single 5A 12V supply or a standard computer supply if you have a spare one.

Happy hunting
Craig