Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Whither goest DOS?

ballendo wrote:

Look at flashcut, and you can see this. That is why you keep telling us that
when "they get there new 32 bit version out..." Will this require you to buy
a new hardware box?

Nope, not at first. You will need to swap a chip in the Black Box (in a dip
socket).

A new chip has already been tested and approved for use with the 16 bit
version. I posted my results a while back. This new chip in the existing box
will operate with the 32 bit version of software. As a side note, many have
found that swapping out the black box's on board opto's to transistors also
improves reliability depending on what drives you have.

The 32 bit Software is all new from ground up. The Base of this program will
then allow for another future release. THAT release, will be an entirely new
technique.

> As long as I'm software-only based, I can run as long as the s/w
> platform is available. And I'll bet that 20 years from now an old pc
> will be easier to find than an old (replacement) flashcut box! (for
> when mine wears out/breaks) And flashcut may not even be around, or
> may not feel like supporting that "old" control box. Anyone in cnc
> has seen this in machines from bridgeport to Camtech. Before anybody
> says the software may not be supported either, keep in mind that a
> hardware failure prevents me from working. Lack of software support
> in the future, after I have been using it for awhile (let's keep the
> apples with apples, and oranges with oranges) only means I can't do
> NEW things...

Very applicable points ! Things happen, Ideas and techniques are improved.
Eventually any hardware based answer will go by the wayside if it breaks.

> 2) Well, I can. Master5 runs very smoothly for me, and OpenCNC
> (whichis expensive, but still based on windows and s/w only) is just
> like dedicated controls in its operation. The ABILITY is there; only
> the price will need to come down, which WILL happen as others
> continue to discover how to do it with windows in s/w only.

Do you care to indicate what components (brands and model numbers) you have
in that computer ?
It might help those who want to try out Master5. I want to try it, But I
would like to build a comp. It will for certain run on right away, rather
than experiment or modify what I have laying around.

Chris L