Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Deskam DeskNCW

Tim:

Just a note that the problems you noted are not a problem in Master5.
Individual axis can be adjusted, keyboard jog is the smoothest around and
the port pins are easy to reconfigure. The program can be setup with a
wingamn USB joystick so all functions including run,pause,spindle on/off
etc, are available. The joystick can jog in all directions as well as
control feed rate override.
You can type in multiple single lines, and not have to enter the G1.
The EMC kernel is used and is a state machine, so it remembers the states.
Peck drilling and all the other EMC codes are in effect. I have just added
angular repeats, (make a program and tell Master5 to run it n times with
n-degrees of rotation between each run). I have also added saving of home
positions by file name (if you set a home position after going to the
reference switches, just hit save, then anytime afterwards you can load the
home position back by nc file name). Tool length referencing and tool tables
are next. My main limitation is 8191 pulses per second output and the NT
Win2000 limitation, but I hope by next year to have the NT drivers up and
running and I am toying with a customer suggestion for a black box version,
his black box puts out 250000 steps per second.. Many fixes and upgrades
have been added in the last couple of months, a new demo with all these
features should be uploaded by the end of this weekend, look for demo 1.90
when it is uploaded.
A US manufacturer of Mill's. lathes and 3d scanning units has just
picked Master5 as the software they will be providing their customers with
their new equipment and will be offering Master5 as an upgrade to their
existing customer base, so it looks like Master5 will continue to grow and
change over the next year or two.

Let me know if you have any difficulties with the demo, or would like any
new features.

Good Luck,
Art

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Goldstein" <timg@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "DesKAM Support" <support@...>
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 11:09 AM
Subject: RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Deskam DeskNCW


> I am also testing out DeskWinNC in my setup of Bridgett.
>
> First, I know of no group or list for this software.
>
> I really have not done extensive testing, but here is my thoughts so far.
> - Jog functionality needs improvement.
> You can use key strokes, but it is all alt + key type of stuff (may be
ctrl,
> done remember). This is not only inconvenient, but not very intuitive as
the
> buttons don't form a pattern. Right and Left arrow keys along with the
PgUp
> and PgDn buttons would be much more intuitive and immensely more
convenient.
> Even the labeling of the jog buttons on the screen is confusing. They are
> left, right, forward, back, up, down. I would vote for X+, X-, Y+, Y- and
so
> on. Forward means Y- so the table moves away from you. Also you can only
jog
> in the discreet steps you have set up. Meaning that you can not just hold
> down a button and have it move until it gets to where you want. If you
want
> to move the table for positioning 8.7 inches or so you would change the
jog
> to 5" than click the move, then pick 2" and move, then pick 1" and move,
> then pick .5" and move, you get the idea. Of course you could just pick
.5"
> say and keep clicking the move. Also if you touch any key during a move
the
> move is aborted.
> - MDI is not very usable.
> MDI (where you type in a g code line directly) is frustrating. Type in one
> line and hit enter and the move is fine. Want to type in another move
while
> the first one is occurring, no dice. As soon as you hit a key the move is
> aborted. Also the complete text of the last move is left in the display
> window. This means that you have to either pick up the mouse and select it
> to delete it or use arrow keys, delete, backspace, whatever to be able to
> put in your next move and only after the first move is completed. MDI also
> does not remember mode. IF you do a G1 X1 Y1 Z1 F10 and now want to just
> move to X2 you have to put in the G1 again. Additionally, MDI loses track
of
> it's self. If you do a move to G1 X1 Y1 Z1 F10 and then hit the zero all
> button the display says you are at X0 Y0 Z0, but if you retry the move to
X1
> Y1 Z1 it does not go anywhere.
> - Display
> The display of the cutting progress gets cleared if you bring up another
> application. Say you have your part cutting and you want to work in Vector
> while you are supervising the machine running (why else would you want to
> run in a multi tasking OS). Well, if you flip back to the DeskWinNC window
> all the previous cut lines are erased and it starts the display from when
> the focus was returned to the window.
> - Acceleration
> This is a single global setting. This means that if you have axis's that
> have different characteristics (the knee on a mill) you have to set the
> acceleration for the worst case and hope it works OK on your fast axis.
> - Misc.
> - I have locked the program up a number of times and lost communication to
> the "black box". Haven't gotten it down to a repeatable pattern, but it
> seems to involve aborted moves.
> - Parallel port layout does not match any other software I know of. This
> means that I had to use one of Doug Fortune's pBREAK boards as a breakout
> board to convert the output to match EMC so I can switch between software
> and not have to rewire my hardware. Not a problem if it is the only system
> you will run, but it does require a breakout board like Doug's where you
can
> access all the pins and the one Camtronics puts out will not work unless
you
> use Doug's board as a converter first.
>
> On the positive side, the pulse output seems rock solid and it does run on
> all of the MS 32 bit systems including NT and 2000.
>
> I will keep testing it as new revisions of the software come out, but as
> soon as I get the Z axis of Bridgett on a G320 I will be switching to EMC
as
> the controller of choice. I think that DeskWinNC can mature too a great
> package, but it is a little raw after using EMC right now. For someone
that
> is intimidated by computers, hates working from a command prompt, and is
> putting it on a Sherline, Taig type machine it would be worth considering.
I
> have not tried Art's Master Control program to say which is a better Win9X
> controller, but DeskWinNC does have the advantage of working on NT and the
> new NT derivative OS's.
>
> I am going to copy this to Carl as I have not given him any feedback since
I
> requested individual axis max speeds which he has added.
>
> Tim
> [Denver CO]
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cadcamcenter@... [mailto:cadcamcenter@...]
> > Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 7:12 AM
> > To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Deskam DeskNCW
> >
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Hoping to hear from those using Deskam and DeskNCW. Someone said he
> > will be posting his experience with DeskNCW. Wondering if that had
> > already been posted?
> >
> > Is there a discussion group for the desk.... group of software?
> >
> > Will be very delighted to hear from the Desk... users.
> >
> > Peter
> >
> >
> > Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for
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>
> Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for the
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>
> Addresses:
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>
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