Re: NC Newby - VB questions

Kurt said:

> ______________________________________________________________
> _________________
>
> Message: 3
> Date: 11 May 1999 13:51:32 -0000
> From: pyroware@...
> Subject: Hi, NC Newby

<snip>

>
> My main question lies in software. I am a very good Visual
> Basic programmer, and I want this system to work under
> windows 95. Most software requires DOS Basic or C, which I
> really want to avoid. I can write to the parallel port, etc.
> Can anyone point me to a manufacturer who sells reasonably
> priced hardware, and software libraries which will allow me
> to accomplish this task? Is programming a soft acceleration
> difficult with steppers? I'd like to keep the cost of the NC
> portion under $1,000. TIA, I hope one day to be able to
> contribute to this group!
>

Kurt,

Although my personal preference would be Windows NT, it can and has been
done under Windows 95. Ron Ginger, a name you've no doubt seen in the
model engineering list and rec.crafts.metalworking (I have not seen him
here though) has developed a VB program which drives the CNC Sherline
mill.

The trick is the device driver that does the low level I/O. As noted VB,
can't block the OS time slicing. I know Ron has a device driver written
in C for his system.

Just out of curiosity, what sort of coils are you winding? Small coils
for circuitry or large coils for Tesla projects?

Mac
Homebrewer and tinker by choice, Computer geek by trade.