Re: NC Newby - VB questions

-----Original Message-----
From: rmcilvaine@... <rmcilvaine@...>
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com>
Date: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 6:46 AM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] NC Newby - VB questions

>>
>> My main question lies in software. I am a very good Visual
>> Basic programmer, and I want this system to work under
>> windows 95.

<snip>

>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.
>

>

The coils are small ignition coils for IC engines. There is a product gap
between tiny coils designed for conversion of stock model aircraft engines,
and motorcycles/autos. Lawn and garden coils are now potted, transistorized
magneto affairs, and worthless for conversion to batter-driven ignition
systems. I hope to wind high-quality coils for myself and others with the
machine.

Roland mentioned Indexer LPT software from http://www.abilitysystems.com
pretty intriguing stuff. I'm not too concerned with OS time sharing with
this application... a lost step here or there won't hurt anything, and since
no cutting is being done, less than perfectly smooth operation won't hurt
either. I suspect a dedicated, surplus pentium PC (now cheap) with no other
apps running, will produce a respectably smooth output.

Thanks!

Kurt