RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CAD, CNC and Windows

Hi, keongsan:

Your questions are good, but I can think of one more to add to them - Will
(whatever G-Code interpreter such as TurboCNC, CNCPro, Master5, etc.) work
with this operating system.

What you'll find is:

1. I don't believe that there are ANY home shop oriented G-Code interpreters
using the parallel port to provide signals to the motor drivers that will
work with any incarnation of Windows XP, as Windows XP prevents direct
access to any I/O ports. G-Code interpreters that rely on an external black
box (in reality, a standalone computer) to provide step/direction or phase
signals to the motors may work.

2. Master5 works reliably in a Windows 9x (including Me) environment, but
won't work under Windows XP or NT yet.

3. CNCPro, TurboCNC, and the others require a pure DOS environment (not a
DOS box under Windows) to run reliably. These programs will "work" in a DOS
box under Windows, but will not generate a robust pulse train due to Windows
overhead. These same programs will simply not work under XP because XP will
prevent them from toggling any bits of the printer port.

You might want to consider splitting your tasks among several computers. Use
an old machine (eg mine is a Zenith Z-Star EX 80486DX2-50 notebook) running
either MS-DOS or DR-DOS to drive your mill using a DOS based G-Code
interpreter. Buy the new computer and use it for your design (CAD, CAM)
activities along with your other "office" work.

I'm really not qualified to comment on the differences between the "home"
and "office" versions of XP as I have neither product, nor have I any
immediate plans to purchase either.

-- Jerry

|I need to get a new computer to control my CNC mill as well as for
|AutoCAD drawinf. There is going to be a computer sale and I am
|undecided which one would be the most suitable.
|
|1. HP P4, 17" monitor preloaded with MS Windows Home edition.
|2. Dell P4 15" monitor preloaded with Windows 98SE
|3. Compaq P4 15" monitor preloaded with Windows Home edition.
|
|What is the difference between Windows Home edition and Windows
|Professional? What will I miss in the Home edition and will it be
|suitable also for office use?
|
|Thanks in advance.
|
|keongsan
|
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