Re: LinuxCNC laptops

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "marcin_ose" <marcin_ose@...>
wrote:

>
> Dear Group,
>
> Can you suggest what brands of laptops have good compatibility with
> LinuxCNC, and what distribution of Linux you would recommend? I'm
> looking for a laptop, and want to make sure that it will work well
> with LinuxCAD for an CNC acetylene torch table that we're building.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Marcin
> http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=Torch_Table
>

The lifespan of a laptop in a shop (especially cutting steel with
plasma or oxy-acet) will be short. Average cost to fix a keyboard
problem = $100.00. Chances of the laptop getting damaged or dropped
about 50%. Opportunity to use expanded parallel port (LPT2) for
advanced features (like low cost THC) = 0

Dirty, grimy fingers and floating debris in the shop makes for a
hostile environment for input devices. Last time I watched one of my
laptops slide off the table onto the shop floor when a cable got
snagged, made me realize that it's a costly option to gain a small
amount of space.

I'm perplexed why users want to use laptops (which are problematic
with both MACH and EMC) for a dedicated controller. The PC that runs
the machine needs to be dedicated to that task and a lower cost
workstation (with expansion PCI slots) gives a LOT more flexibility.

IMO a laptop only makes sense for a tabletop hobby machine that sits
unused most of the time and the environment is free from most of the
hazards of shop with more than one user. (BTW I was the one that
snagged the cord and ruined the laptop (:-)

IMO using a laptop to run CNC in a shop is like driving nails with
French Bread. Wrong tool for the job.


TOM CAUDLE (aka Torchhead)
www.CandCNC.com