RE: G-code interpreters in DOS?

CNCers:

At 10:10 PM 11/7/00 -0800, Randy wrote:

>CNCPro does look very impressive. I've downloaded the demo version, and it
>gives 20 moves per session (just enough to do maybe a little facing or
>maybe some minor pocketing, depending on how it counts moves...) I will
>try it out when I finish retrofitting the mill.
>
>I will seriously weigh your advice. EMC does look like a powerful piece of
>software (even though I have probably the minimum system imaginiable--a
>Sherline mill about to be converted with steppers) and, as a taxpayer I
>definitely wouldn't look askance at getting some tangible benefit from my
>"contributions!" :-)

Now mind you I'm in the middle of this so can't say for sure, but:

I'm convinced you can set up a machine to dual boot DOS or Linux. I'm
setting up a machine for CNC and now have it this way. I have a partition
formatted for FAT in which DOS is installed. Another partition has linux
installed and, from linux, can access the FAT partition. When the machine
boots (linux LILO boot loader) I will be able to select DOS, linux or
rtlinux.

Then with a little thought and an extra plug or two between the computer
parallel port and the stepper drivers one can run linux and EMC or any
DOS based control program. From the conversations here EMC seems like
the best controller but I still want the ability to run other DOS
controllers without too much trouble.

So, as I see it, you can have your cake and eat it too. :-)

Hugh Currin
Klamath Falls, OR