Re: xp cnc software

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "smeboss" <c65pratt@c...>
wrote:

> Hello, I need some XP compatible cnc software. Any Ideas? I'm
> running 1.7 Athlon, 512mb ram, and integrated video.
>
> Thanks
>
> Charles

Are you talking about the design and toolpath definitions or the
actually running a machine? Those are different actions and are all
part of CNC. There have been combinations of the magic "Triad" of
operations but basically it's three steps: CAD, to draw the part,
CAM, to define HOW the machine is going to cut the part (toopaths,
offsets, feedrates, cut depths, multi-pass cuts, etc) and finally the
Controller that takes the g-code file produced by the CAM program and
twiddles the motors to move the machine to cut the part.

MACH2 is a Controller. It runs from a standard PC parallel port and
puts out step and direction pulses that will drive the common motor
drive modules we hobbiests can afford (Gecko, Rutex, Xylotex,
HobbyCNC to name a few). MACH2 is written to run on WIN2000 or XP
and has a list of features a mile long. Download a free demo at
www.artofcnc.ca

For a low cost CAM program for Windows download the free beta of
Sheetcam at www.sheetcam.com

If you intend on using your XP computer to control your machine,
consider having a dedicated box for just that and network it to your
design PC(s). While in theory you can use the same box for
everything, a dedicated box is less problematic. MACH2 will run
easily on a 900 or 1 Ghz machine and there are reports of people
using 500 mhz ones. I use a 900MHZ AMD unit that was setting in a
corner. I use WIN2000 (that's just me and my choice, since I REALLY
don't like XP) and never have problems.

No matter what you do, HAVE FUN!