Re: Linux vs. DOS

> -----Original Message-----

>
> From: "Matt Shaver" <mshaver@...>
> Gee, I didn't know you had hardware. I thought you were just checking out
> the GUI. This is great!
>

I am running a Shoptask machine with some Superior 550 in/oz bi-polar
steppers on each axis. I use one of Dan Mauch's 5 amp controllers and power
the CNC stuff from a 24 VDC 20 amp surplus power supply. I have been running
it from DeskNC DOS version. I also have DeskNC Win95 , DanCAD, and Stepster
all set up on the system just to see what I like. Of the group of software
products DeskNC DOS seems to be the most stable.

I became interested in a program that would provide G42 offset support as
the Vector (the CAD/CAM product I am using) is designed to output it's
G-code using offsets. So, with all the software I currently have I must go
in and manually draw offset paths and then remove the G42 and G40 command
from the code. A big pain, but workable. I was considering MaxNC, but with
all the talk about EMC on this list I though I would give it a try before
shelling out some more $$$ for this hobby.

> Sorry, my fault there I'm afraid.
>

Not a big deal. Without your help I still would have been mucking around
trying to get the real time patch in place.

>
> Well, there are of course two approaches to this. One of them involves a
> soldering iron... I'm not a programmer by any stretch of the imagination,
> and I don't think this is in the .ini file. Give me a little while to dig
> through the EMC source directories here and I'll get back to you. I just
> cooked some burgers on the grill, and I'm going to eat a few and think
> about this. It's probably in some file called parport.h or stepper.c, or
> something like that. I can imagine it involves some changes that we can do
> without involving the software folks such as just changing a few numbers.

I would very much prefer if we can find a way to get it reconfigured in the
software as all the other programs I have installed are configured for this
particular setup. This particular configuration is what is specified for
DanCAD which to my taste is better documented in how to interface the
controller to the parallel port than any of the other software I have seen.

> Amazin', ain't it.
>

I'll agree with that.

Time for me to cook some burgers now. I'll check back to see if you found
anything on setting up the parallel port.

Thanks,

Tim
[Denver, CO]