Re: Beast
Posted by
Andrew Werby
on 1999-10-29 03:42:58 UTC
Message: 7
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 19:52:42 +0200
From: "Arne Chr. Jorgensen" <instel@...>
Subject: Beast
Hi,
I will just say a few words to Andrew:
Tape and IO:
Well, they usually keep some of the old stuff possible to hook up.
That is just normal, even if they never have used it.
RS232/ current loop:
[And if I reverse my RS232 plug I get one or the other?]
Yes, in an old PC-com-adapter, see what I have written about it. But
you have RS232, so you don't have to.
There could be a dip switch in your "Beast" to select either. I
would guess that both goes to the same serial adapter chip on your
main board.
[It seems like it's set up to read the RS232 port (or the TTY) when it
gets a certain g-code command. The problem is, that it reads it into (its
very limited) memory; it won't just run from the input directly. ]
[I didn't see anything like that in the manual, unfortunately- it
seems
dedicated to the use of the machine as is.]
[I'm coming around to your way of thinking, Arne (and Ray). If it
ain't
broke, why fix it?
Well, I would not mind at all if you installed EMC, but I just
think that if you give yourself some time with it, you will know
much more how to do it. There is just too much IO you would like to
keep. Any "brain " job must first be planned on paper, before you
reach for your "snipers".
[I had hoped to get away with the "drip-feed" approach, but the guy that
was going to put in that BTR board for me said that if my machine couldn't
run directly from the input then it probably wouldn't work. I'm still
wondering if there isn't a way to trick it into accepting tiny spoonsful of
data, loading them into memory, and executing them, then clearing the
buffer to make room for the next few spoonsful, etc. If I do get EMC up and
running, though, I'll probably get an itch to try it on this machine
eventually.]
[Actually, I've got a spare (CRT) that came with the machine. How exactly
do
these things go in and out? Is there a plug, or do I have to
unsolder and
resolder a bunch of stuff? The one that's in there can be read, but
it's
got some nasty "wrinkles" in the picture that don't inspire
confidence.]
All the cables is labeled nice on your drawing, and you already have
one hooked up. Just pay attentions, it is not that difficult.
[Well, I haven't started dismantling the terminal yet, but I did look at
the spare, and it doesn't have any apparent plugs, or attachment points or
any other obvious way to get power to it. That's why I was wondering.]
It sounds as if you don't have much practice in the electrical
field, and would like some help. If I were you, I would contact
the nearest College, and ask if some of the students could make a
retrofit plan, or some of them would like to tinker a bit. Give them
a lollipop, and they would be happy to assist you. ( I would :)
Talk with one of the teachers, - I am sure you could have some good
help. They might even build you new panels, and other stuff.
[At the nearest college to me- UC Berkeley- I'm afraid the junior engineers
are all too busy planning their IPOs. They don't like lollipops-they prefer
stock options. Perhaps youthful idealism survives in Norway...]
How much memory is installed in this machine ?
[I found this in the manual- 10 k bytes. Not much by modern standards. Is
there any way to give it more, without tearing out the old controller
altogether?]
"Beauty, - I think you will have a good time with the beast." :)
//ARNE
[Oh, we're having tons of fun already. A little obedience training would be
good, though.]
Andrew Werby
Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 19:52:42 +0200
From: "Arne Chr. Jorgensen" <instel@...>
Subject: Beast
Hi,
I will just say a few words to Andrew:
Tape and IO:
Well, they usually keep some of the old stuff possible to hook up.
That is just normal, even if they never have used it.
RS232/ current loop:
[And if I reverse my RS232 plug I get one or the other?]
Yes, in an old PC-com-adapter, see what I have written about it. But
you have RS232, so you don't have to.
There could be a dip switch in your "Beast" to select either. I
would guess that both goes to the same serial adapter chip on your
main board.
[It seems like it's set up to read the RS232 port (or the TTY) when it
gets a certain g-code command. The problem is, that it reads it into (its
very limited) memory; it won't just run from the input directly. ]
[I didn't see anything like that in the manual, unfortunately- it
seems
dedicated to the use of the machine as is.]
[I'm coming around to your way of thinking, Arne (and Ray). If it
ain't
broke, why fix it?
Well, I would not mind at all if you installed EMC, but I just
think that if you give yourself some time with it, you will know
much more how to do it. There is just too much IO you would like to
keep. Any "brain " job must first be planned on paper, before you
reach for your "snipers".
[I had hoped to get away with the "drip-feed" approach, but the guy that
was going to put in that BTR board for me said that if my machine couldn't
run directly from the input then it probably wouldn't work. I'm still
wondering if there isn't a way to trick it into accepting tiny spoonsful of
data, loading them into memory, and executing them, then clearing the
buffer to make room for the next few spoonsful, etc. If I do get EMC up and
running, though, I'll probably get an itch to try it on this machine
eventually.]
[Actually, I've got a spare (CRT) that came with the machine. How exactly
do
these things go in and out? Is there a plug, or do I have to
unsolder and
resolder a bunch of stuff? The one that's in there can be read, but
it's
got some nasty "wrinkles" in the picture that don't inspire
confidence.]
All the cables is labeled nice on your drawing, and you already have
one hooked up. Just pay attentions, it is not that difficult.
[Well, I haven't started dismantling the terminal yet, but I did look at
the spare, and it doesn't have any apparent plugs, or attachment points or
any other obvious way to get power to it. That's why I was wondering.]
It sounds as if you don't have much practice in the electrical
field, and would like some help. If I were you, I would contact
the nearest College, and ask if some of the students could make a
retrofit plan, or some of them would like to tinker a bit. Give them
a lollipop, and they would be happy to assist you. ( I would :)
Talk with one of the teachers, - I am sure you could have some good
help. They might even build you new panels, and other stuff.
[At the nearest college to me- UC Berkeley- I'm afraid the junior engineers
are all too busy planning their IPOs. They don't like lollipops-they prefer
stock options. Perhaps youthful idealism survives in Norway...]
How much memory is installed in this machine ?
[I found this in the manual- 10 k bytes. Not much by modern standards. Is
there any way to give it more, without tearing out the old controller
altogether?]
"Beauty, - I think you will have a good time with the beast." :)
//ARNE
[Oh, we're having tons of fun already. A little obedience training would be
good, though.]
Andrew Werby
Andrew Werby - United Artworks
Sculpture, Jewelry, and Other Art Stuff
http://unitedartworks.com