Messages

261

General Mach Discussion / Re: DriverTest.exe results

« on: September 13, 2006, 01:37:33 PM »

That computer should make things happy. I have installed several machines and haven't yet had to resort to the optimisation list. I wouldn't do it unless you have problems. AS for via, I have a asus a7v8vx for my home computer and I have had problems with the chip set with other trivial things like my ati video drivers for my 4 month old $400 video card but don't think it should cause any mach problems. Make sure that you have the latest VIA Hyperion drivers from the VIA website.

As for looking at things with test equipment, If you really want to - go for it. I would just get xp installed, all patched up, mach3 latest version installed then wait until the cnc machine shows up and start from there. I wouldn't spend hours of sifting through 1's and 0' looking for anolomies when 10 seconds worth of a g0x20 would tell you weather you have a problem or not. 

good luck let us know what you find.

Chad
 

262

General Mach Discussion / Re: DriverTest.exe results

« on: September 12, 2006, 04:29:15 AM »

Well without a o-scope, or better yet a sampling logic analyzer you won't be able to tell much until you get the machine plugged in. You are right on the edge of processor to slow. If you bump it up to 512 ram  you should just squeak by.

See: http://machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=1328.0


Chad

Wow i guess i am on a ram crusade today

263

General Mach Discussion / Re: Missing Steps - Mach3 - Taig Mill

« on: September 12, 2006, 04:12:23 AM »

The computer is just a little too wimpy for mach. The amount of ram is a problem too.  Both of these are combining to give you your poor performance.
OK jog and poor gcode are a sure sign of the processor being too slow. 
The ram is affecting things too. Win XP pro all by itself can gobble up to 200mb of your ram. If you have on board video that will take ram from the system too ( and usually causes other problems with mach 3) , same for on board sound (although not as much).
What happens when you get low on Physical ram is the processor has to take a break from running things (like mach) and store some virtual memory on the hard drive. Reading and writing VM like this is time consuming and requires a lot of processor cycles, On a already slow processor and HD / Io subsystem.
Mach takes takes lots of "liberties" with the 2k/xp kernel as it is to get consistent timing out of the parallel port. Combine this with a slow system and you will get exactly what you are describing.

Sorry but it just isn't possible for mach 3 to run well on a machine like that , it is just what it is. 

Good luck,

PS. You can have a brand new2.66 GHz nice machine now days for about $300. That would make a nice new cad/cam computer make sure it has at least 512mb of ram. For cad/cam a gig would help lots.
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/basdt_b110?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

264

General Mach Discussion / Re: DriverTest.exe results

« on: September 11, 2006, 01:28:35 PM »

Hi Sploo,

I wouldn't worry about just yet. Continue on building your machine. One you have motors running preformance will  dictate how your computer is running things.  I would recomend that you have atleast 512 mb of ram..
One gig is just a touch light, but more ram always helps things.

Chad
 

265

General Mach Discussion / Re: Missing Steps - Mach3 - Taig Mill

« on: September 11, 2006, 01:10:25 AM »

You might be better off with mach 2 considering your cpu speed. You are running with about half the recommended system for mach3 (1.2 gig or so).

How much ram do you have? is mach 3 the only installed app on that machine? what kind of steppers (or servos do you have) drives? are you loosing steps by measuring the part or can you hear/feel it in the machine? does it do it when jogging or just with g-code?

Chad
 

266

General Mach Discussion / Re: jogging 4th axis?

« on: September 10, 2006, 08:57:52 PM »

Go to the system hotkeys config and you can set them to whatever you would like. I use home and end for my c and insert delete for my b

Chad

267

General Mach Discussion / Re: Installation problems - No Driver Sensed Installed. Run Driver Test

« on: September 06, 2006, 09:42:00 PM »

what operating system are you trying to install on?

chad

268

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Re: g-code verifying

« on: September 06, 2006, 12:44:26 PM »

Brian. LOL

As for rendering smooth. Hardware,Hardware,Hardware. I have a ATI x1600 pro with 512mb of video ram. It is capable of billions of something and trillions of something else per second ( how is that for being smart ? ).
I am guessing that the tool path display is a software opengl implementation, if this was offloaded to a graphics card then mach would have a lot less to worry about. On the flip side this opens a HUGE can of worms. You now would have to be able to program every conceivable tool in mach. From fly cutters to ball end mills, so the rendered solid would cut like a actual part. Mach would also have to now care about the stock.

As much as i would like to see this in mach i think the better place for this (down the road) is in l-cam.

Chad
   

269

General Mach Discussion / Re: Whats better? Pentium or AMD

« on: September 06, 2006, 02:10:30 AM »

It doesn't matter. I have used both. Just make sure it is a gigahertz or above at least 256mb of ram ( preferably 512, xp all by itself can eat almost 256 ) and a separate video card. There have been problems reported with on board video, and they eat more system ram. A $25 dollar cheapo card will do.

chad

270

General Mach Discussion / Re: IMS stepper motor compatability

« on: September 06, 2006, 01:40:45 AM »

HI Garyv,

This exact model - mdo23.pdf - won't work, It has just about every control input except the one that you need with mach.

I did some digging on the site and the MDM23Plus does have a STEP and Direction input that should work just fine with mach. http://www.imshome.com/Product%20Datasheets/MDM23Plus.pdf

Pretty cool gizmo's. if you get a price let us know.

Animatics makes a similar motor/driver combo. http://www.animatics.com/web/sm_2320.html I did call on these a couple of years ago and they weren't cheap.

Chad