RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Help with DeskNC for DOS

Tom,

DeskNC for dos is very likely not going to run on an NT/2000 box. DeskNC
writes directly to the parallel port and that is a no-no in an NT
environment. My guess is that it will come up and then application error
with an illegal operation as soon as you issue the first command. What
you can do is make a bootable system floppy on a DOS or Win9X box and
then boot your NT box from that floppy and run DeskNC dos from that.

My favorite machine controller software is EMC. I am far from a Linux
fan but it is a solid realtime environment and gives you multi-tasking
abilities along with a very feature rich high performance controller.
The BDI installation makes it relatively easy to get started.

Tim
[Denver, CO]

> -----Original Message-----
> Hello
>
> I am going to embarass myself in asking for help with starting DeskNC
> for DOS. I was always horrible with DOS, so I don't know if I am even
> starting right by using the DOS prompt which I find in the Windows NT
> start menu. Do I have to restart my computer in DOS mode?
>
> I am simply trying to run the program and see how it works. I'll be
> using it, or some other software with a 3 axis mill, at some point in
> the future.
>
> So, can anyone help me get out of the starting gate? I find that some
> of the freeware programs work in my "learning" sessions, and some
> don't even want to start. The one I like so far, is Kellyware, which
> is a windows based program. I have heard that DOS-based programs are
> better for machine control, since they are real-time, but the windows
> ones sure are easier at first.
>
> I should mention that I do not have my computer hooked up to any cnc
> system at the moment. I have just finished Dan Mauch's 5 amp drivers,
> but I am not ready to do a full scale test with motors yet.
>
> Thanks to anyone who helps. Tom.
>
>
> Addresses:
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/