Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] PC, Dumb box and Software

PhilC wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Stevenson" <machines@...>
> <snip>
>
> > Taking [1] first. Why do we need windows? References keep being made to
> > this but taking the fact that the PC will be a machine operating system
> > taking in files it can use any base system. If we look at commercial
> > machines they all have their own specialised system most are still DOS
> > based and they work OK.The boot up time of DOS over windows is far greater
> > and also it's stability.
> > I personally can't see any reason for using windows - perhaps i'm missing
> > something ?

Well, I'm running EMC on Linux, in a windows-like screen environment.
I can use text editors to edit G-code programs, an on-screen calculator,
use a network to transmit G-code programs from the CAD computer,
and also run a bunch of little programs that write the G-code to cut
round and rectangular pockets, peck drill holes, bolt circles, run
tapping heads, etc. I can do all of this even while the machine is
cutting, although I lose the connection between the keyboard and the
CNC program when I'm using some other program.

I do find this to be quite useful. I doubt you'd want to write your
own network FTP server to put into this.

By the way, many of the commercial CNC controls are using either
Win95 or NT with real-time extensions.

Jon