Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CNCpro VS Artisan

I have two Ahha controls. Pro and Artisian. I also have Cnc Pro.

This may be where you are getting confused. Ahha had two packages. Pro and
Artisian. Yeager has Pro and Lite.

Ahha has more options than Cnc Pro. It will open and execute Fanuc 6M G
code, HPGL, and Excellon drill files. It has more configuration options. The
timing is handled on the Artisian board where Cnc Pro is in software. On the
Ahha Pro card, the timing is in software as in Cnc Pro.

The encoder option for Artisian is ONLY for threading on a lathe. The option
is an extra add on to the standard Artisian card. I do not have this option
on mine nor do I see a great need for it. It can be retrofitted later if I
ever decide I need it.

The look ahead buffer on Ahha's controllers SUCK! Cutting results in lots
of tiny starts and stops. This results in a lot of wasted time and a lot of
additional noise. They've been making excuses for several years on this
issue but the last software version I have does not fix the smoothness of
contouring.

Cnc Pro has the latest version available for download from a web page. Ahha
you must request the latest version and it will be mailed to you. ( or you
can ask them to email it to you )

Ahha's interface card is basically it's copy protection device. It's a
simple logic ISA logic card with a copy protected PLD device. It does
however support full + and - limit switches for each axis output and has
several additional inputs and outputs for spindle, coolant, clamps etc...
Ahha could do all these functions ( except the timing on the Artisian
board ) with parallel ports as Cnc Pro does but that would require either an
additional parallel card to be added or the use of a multi port parallel
card.

Cnc Pro uses a license file which is more reasonable in my opinion. A
complete hardware meltdown will not force you to rebuy your CNC control as
it would if your Ahha card fried. In 5 years of using the Ahha's, neither
one has ever failed though.

One thing Ahha does have that is better than any of the other controls I
have is a FANTASTIC manual. It is BIG and full of information. It is an
eduction on CNC and stepper motors. You can buy the manual alone for $17.

Another fantastic feature Ahha has is feedrate override. You can vary the
feedrate of the machine by simply pressing the + or - key on your keyboard.
This will increase or decrease all feedrates by a percentage. The maximum
percentage is adjustable in configuration.

The only reason I still have 2 Ahha controllers is simply because they
import Excellon and HPGL files. If I didn't need that function, I would
drop Ahha in a heartbeat.

As an aside, I also have Flashcut, and Master5CNC controllers. Flashcut has
good contouring but again will not import Excellon or HPGL files. It's also
a $1095 copy protection box and will not attain the step speeds Ahha or Cnc
Pro will. Flashcut and Master5CNC runs in Windows. Ahha and CncPro runs in
pure DOS.

Master5CNC I have not connected to a machine as of yet so cannot make any
comparisons of it at this time.

Between the three controllers I have that have been used, Cnc Pro is by far
the best bang for the buck. You can buy 5 Cnc Pro packages for one Ahha
Artisian. ( based on the current price of Cnc Pro and what I paid for Ahha 5
years ago ) I do not know the current price of Artisian. If Doug would add
HPGL and Excellon import, full + and - limit switch support and feedrate
override it would be time for me to say goodbuy to Ahha.

Any further questions on Ahha versus Cnc Pro feel free to ask. If it's
something in particular I can do a side by side comparison.

later,
Larry E.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Vicars" <jvicars@...>
To: "cncpro group" <yeagerautomation@yahoogroups.com>;
"CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@egroups.com" <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 8:44 AM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CNCpro VS Artisan


> What is the relationship between CNCpro and Artisan? There is a
> link to CNCpro on the Ahha website. They show it like it's a "version"
> of the Artisan control.
> I know Artisan supports encoder feedback and has it's own hardware
> card, but what other differences? Is Doug Yeager involved with Ahha?
> I am seriously considering Artisan for an Okuma lathe conversion.
> It would be even better if the two controls were related somehow, I
> wouldn't have to re-learn a bunch of stuff.
>
>
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