Re: Newbie's Input - Software

On Saturday 22 November 2003 11:29 pm, CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
wrote:

> Message: 23
> Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 03:59:45 -0000
> From: "John Delaney" <john.p.delaney@...>
> Subject: Newbie's Input - Software
>
> So, step one for me has been to make a decision on software and the
> controller. I have a simple part that I want to "mass" produce. If ti
> sells, I'm off to the races and I can act like a "Pro". Ha! Two axis
> would do it, but I'd like three for the next thing.
>
> Here are my thoughts:

<s>

> EMC - CNC only I think. Still need a CAM program to gen the G-Codes.
> Then I am not at all sure I am up to the whole Linux thing. I hate
> Bill Gates too but how much work is that really worth?

Much of the difficulty with Linux and the EMC is created when one tries to
build and set up the whole system from scratch. One is not required to
dislike anyone, billionaire or otherwise, in order to successfully run
the EMC.

An install from the BDI-2.20b will take about 10-20 minutes on a $35 used
desktop machine. Another hour or so with the INI file for your specific
machine characteristics and you should be about ready to go.

But there is an even easier way to try it out and that is BDI-Live. This
is a bootable CD that comes up with a graphical windowing manager and an
icon or two that starts the handbook or the machine controller. This
will let you see what it looks like, enter a few test programs, and plot
the tool paths to the screen without doing much of anything. This
distribution can also be installed to hard drive or you can edit a few
files on the CD and make a custom bootable for your specific machine.

Hope this helps.

Ray