Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Help: Machine Control Software Advice

Hi-ho,

I've just finished looking at all the same things, and although I've not
brought it yet I'll be going with CNCpro when I get my router made (it's one
of those 100 year projects).

My two bits about the software you mention that you mentioned...

MaxNC, Didn't like it, can't remember why, but I've deleted it from my HD,
which is always a bad sign :-).

CNCPro, nice program, works well and supports more of the complex Gcodes
than some of the others I looked at. Look-ahead profiling is a definite
advantage when using converted CAD images due to spline and pline conversion
producing lots of small "segments" in a compound curve, makes non look ahead
software move the machine very slowly. CNCPro also had the best stepper
output signals, as in no "glitch" to the pulse stream when viewed on a
scope. Glitches in the pulse stream will can cause missed steps running at
high speed under load. I also had a problem with the eval copy, and Doug
Yaeger replied to my inquiries quickly and with helpful info, even though
I've not brought the product yet. Lots of good config options.

DeskNC, used this one on my lathe a bit, It's got the pretty graphical
advantage but the pulse rate to the servos varies slightly at times, and I
had trouble with the backlash compensation in curves when the apron was
under side load (machining plastic..) I suspect playing with the backlash
figures would fix this. I also suspect that the overhead of the 'graphical'
interface causes the pulse rate changes. Worked fine apart from that, and
the demo will last 15 minutes, which may be long enough for all of your
jobs? The interface for configuring this one is a bit annoying as well, but
has lots of options. No lookahead.

K-Cam, Easily the prettiest one of the lot, and very functional. It's only
downfall is windows. The stepper output is pretty lousy. Running my lathe
I have to run at about 2/3rds the rate that CNCpro and Stepster will drive
it. You can actually hear the changes in stepper rate. But hey, it's free,
and it does DXF to Gcode, and machines things for you. If speed isn't your
aim, this one is a good bet. I use it to do some of my DXF to Gcode
conversions. One downside with the conversion is that it puts Z moves in
between all of the spline segments some times, I've written a post processor
in Quick basic to clean this up before I run the Gcode in something else.
It's also handy for testing 2.5D Gcode. Config options are good. No
lookahead on this one..

Stepster, Ahhh, open source software.... Light on the config, but what does
it matter when you've got the source code? No lookahead, backlash
compensation after G02/G03 (curves) is buggy, and lots of G codes not
supported. But the source code is available so if you're a Qbasic nut you
can fix it all. This is what I started out using on my lathe retrofit, and
I still use it for 90% of my playing, bearing in mind that I've never
actually turned anything for real, I'm only playing. Also it's way of
handing feed rates is a little annoying, it dosn't talk IPM or mm/s it uses
a relative rate from 1 to 100. 100 is the flat our rate, and the others are
slower, depending on the speed value you use. This is because all of the
stepper pulses are produced using "for next" loops in basic. For all that
it produces quite even pulse output.

I downloaded Master control but didn't get around to testing it yet...

EMC is my next adventure, I've downloaded a CD image, and will give it a go
sometime next week if I get a spare hour or ten...

Hope that all helps someone.....

Cheers, Chris.

* Design engineer, Assembly worker, Cleaner.
* Ohmark Electronics. PO Box 5302, Christchurch, New Zealand.
* http://www.ohmark.co.nz

----- Original Message -----

> I've gone back over the archives looking for some clear recommendations on
> low-end step/direction machine control software and have found there are
> about as many opinions as there are packages.
>
> I'm looking to control a MAXNC 15 primarily to make 2-D panels with
> cutouts. There seems to be some consensus the MAXNC software is pretty
> bad. Further, the unipolar, non-chopper drive supplied by MAXNC is quite
> slow. So I'm leaning towards Dan Mauch's 2 amp or 5 amp controllers and
> some decent motors. The software choice, however, is a lot tougher.
>
> I currently use QuickCad (by Autodesk) for drawings. It would be great to
> import dxf files one way or another and be able to tweak the G-code and
> go. What do folks think of Yeager's CNC Pro? What about DeskNC? For
more
> money, there are options like Bobcad. And finally, there's all the
various
> DOS/Windows freeware like Kellyware's K-CAM, Stepster and Master Control
> CNC? I'm not crazy about Linux so EMC probably isn't a good choice.
>
> I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here, but you'd think there would be
> some standout software in this crowd? Has anyone had experience with
> several packages? I'm mainly looking for ease of use. Thanks!
>
> Mike
>
>
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