RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Shop Computer

SO glad you asked... here is my imput:
currently building a shop computer. it is semi obsolete, built from the
*most* dependable of the older components
P6SBA supermicro mother board (440BX chipset)
667 Mghz Celeron (fcpga on fcpga-slot 1 adapter)
128 meg ram (its sooooo cheap right now)
cheap case (BUT, it's got the removable sides, easier for assembly)
ATA66 IDE-RAID contoller, found it dirt cheap
on that controller, 2-256 compact flash cards, on pc-engine's adapter
board---for a total of 500 meg
on the primary IDE, 1-65 meg compact flash card (61 meg after all is said
and done)
OS: real-time linux (going to run EMC)
so, in addition to EMC, im also going to try cam-expert (made by the same
people who gave us qcad)

the reason I went with the compact flash (short of the HUGE performance
boost) was that it is a great deal more dependable, Very sutable for the
harsh shop environment i can expect to run into---vibration, dust,
tempurature... things that could *kill* a hard drive
also compact flash is pretty cheap right now ($130 for a 256 meg card!)
compared to a while ago

the reason I am going to linux is that it has everything I need, it's cheap
(free, if you know someone with a disk burner)
stuff you needed:
word processor: kword (free) gnotepad (Free) Wordperfect ($50 or so) lyxs
(think i spelled it wrong--free, VERY powerfull, but also very cryptic)
spread sheet: gnumeric (Free)---dont really use spread sheets... so i cant'
help you much there
CAD: qcad (free, powerfull, easy to learn) varicad (a couple hundred,
haven't used it myself, but looks powerfull) a host of other projects for
free drafting that i haven't tried but look VERY promissing
Don't know of unit conversion programs, i have an old dos one here, that
would probably run under WINE or DOSEMU (but i've never used them) i expect
you could pick up a linux one off the net after 10 mins of looking

problems you could expect to run into as a linux newbe: partitioning (alot
of windows people have never had to), loggin into a real multiuser
environment (what do you mean, i dont have permission... its MY computer?)
trying to install new software (what do you mean 'tar -xvf'? huh?... i have
to MAKE this? what?)
advise: get redhat 7.1 or something similar (i like 6.2... but im old
school i guess) when you get software to install, get is in RPM format, and
make sure you log in as root before you try to install it. as easy install
tool is gnorpm (you can type that into a terminal and it will pop right up
on the desktop) it will tell you if you have missing prerequisites and what
there names are (just do a web search for that rpm package)

my last big reason why to go with linux: on the older computers (like if
you got an old used pentium 1 or something) linux runs circles around
windows for speed and dependibility, and if you run into problems with
speed, linux is VERY configurable. anyhow, i really should get back to
work----Dave L.
(oh, and desktop all the way---laptop makers are not required to conform to
desktop standards---they really are pieces of junk!)

-----Original Message-----
From: wbbengtsson@...
[mailto:wbbengtsson@...]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2001 6:47 AM
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Shop Computer


Hello All:
I recently asked the following questions on Usenet, and got some
reasonably good feedback. I thought I would try the same again here.
My apologies to anyone who reads the following for the second time.

Further to the original inquiry, I am a Boilermaker, building stuff
that usualy has some subsequent heat treatment and machining. I would
NOT be accessing original drawings, but might be doing some simple
CAD layouts. I am not paid to draft, but there are times when it is
easier to manipulate pixels, as opposed to manipulating multi tonne
bits of steel ,to see if the bits will fit.



-----begin quoted message------
I am thinking of getting a cheap(obsolete) computer to press into
service as
a shop computer.

I would be interesting any of the following feedback:

1. What programs would you put on a shop computer? I plan on putting
at
least one inexpensive Cad program on. Which CAD program I haven't
settled on
yet. A spreadsheet and some kind of text editor as well, along with a
units
conversion program.

(NOTE: I don't do CNC. This post was cossposted to a.m.cnc in the
hopes that
there would be more users with shop computer experience)

1a: What reference material would you make available (materials
databases,
quality standards, etc) and how would you "control" it to make sure
it is as
correct as it needs to be?

2. Laptop VS. Desktop? Also, How old can this be and still be
considered
useful?

3. Operating system? Not wanting to start any more religious wars,
but if
Linux has enough shop type software available, I would consider it.
Currently, I don't do Linux.

3. Is paper output "necessary?". I am thinking that if it needs to be
printed, it needs to be done on a "regular" set-up, not the shop
P.O.S.

4. Is a "shop computer" more of a distraction than an aid to
productivity?

Any other feedback or comments welcome. I would be especially
interested in
anyone's personal experiences. What I am looking for is a way to
increase my
personal productivity on the shop floor. I _don't_ need another
distraction,
if there is no corresponding benefit to be had.

OTOH, I have had to do full size "Layouts" for items that would have
taken
1/4 the time with any decent low end CAD system.

Can you see the day when there is a drawer in your toolbox the right
size
for a laptop, just as there is now for Machinery's Handbook? How
about a
wireless LAN to harass the boss with emails (WHERE'S THE STEEL YOU
PROMISED, etc.)

Regards
Wayne Bengtsson
-----end quoted message------





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