Need a recommendation for a new computer for Mach3

[adatesman]

Well, crap. The computer I run Mach3 on has developed a hardware issue that makes it lock up randomly, which is obviously not a good thing while machining. Anyone have thoughts on something to replace it? Are the Intel Atom netbooks/nettops fast enough and available with a parallel port? Are there USB options other than SmoothStepper? Is SmoothStepper capable of handling 70ipm rapids? Is Win7 Mach3 friendly?

On a related note, I have a couple other tasks for whatever replaces this machine, so it will likely have to be a laptop.

Thanks!

[MaxHeadRoom]

There is Dynomotion, it is a USB closed loop controller with either its own front end-HMI or there is a Mach plug in for it.
You can get away with a lower speed PC as the Dynomotion does the motion control.
Max.

[adatesman]

OOOooooo.... That looks really nice. Hadn't heard of it before. Thanks!

[MaxHeadRoom]

Excellent support, BTW.
Max.

[Hood]

Mach wil run on 32bit versions of Win7 with the parallel port and will run 64bit with external devices such as SmoothStepper, DSPMC, KFlop etc

SmoothStepper can pulse at 4MHz which is 40 times faster than the fastest the parallel port is capable of. I run my machines at up to 600KHz when using the smoothstepper which equates to 20m/min and more with my setups
Hood

[djc]

What machine do you intend to use it on? If it is a lathe, you need to determine how any of the add-in cards handle threading.

If you go for an add-on card that does its own motion control, you can get away with a less powerful machine than when Mach itself does it. If space is an issue, one of the small-format Dell Optiplexes running XP works nicely. Go for a desktop every time as laptops take lots of liberties in an effort to save space and power.

You probably know this, but you really, really do want to dedicate a desktop-type machine solely to Mach. It is doing things under Windows that shouldn't really be done, so play fair; help it out a bit.

[DICKEYBIRD]

You probably know this, but you really, really do want to dedicate a desktop-type machine solely to Mach. It is doing things under Windows that shouldn't really be done, so play fair; help it out a bit.

I'm about to join the Mach3 ranks now that I was given a PC to go out into my shop that's powerful enough to run it. Should I not plan to install a wireless adapter to transfer files and really only use it as a dedicated control machine? I was previously thinking I could do CAD/CAM on it as well. Is that unsafe too?

If that's the best way, I can live with it if necessary. Don't want no funny stuff goin' on...it's hard enough for me when it all works like it's supposed to!

[adatesman]

What machine do you intend to use it on? If it is a lathe, you need to determine how any of the add-in cards handle threading.

Good point, and apologies for not saying it up front. It's being used on a Taig mill.

You probably know this, but you really, really do want to dedicate a desktop-type machine solely to Mach. It is doing things under Windows that shouldn't really be done, so play fair; help it out a bit.

Yup, I realize that. I was hoping things had changed since I last looked at hardware for Mach3, but apparently not. Unfortunately one of the needs for this machine is running the field-portable tensile testing machine (which is used to test mountaineering equipment out in the field nowhere near a power outlet), which kinda means laptop. Having two separate machines would be the easy answer, but that's not really an option due to funding issues.

[Hood]

Should I not plan to install a wireless adapter to transfer files and really only use it as a dedicated control machine? I was previously thinking I could do CAD/CAM on it as well. Is that unsafe too?

If that's the best way, I can live with it if necessary. Don't want no funny stuff goin' on...it's hard enough for me when it all works like it's supposed to!

Some wireless adapters work fine others dont, its just a case of try and see I suppose. I have used a USB wireless adapter before (BlueNext if I recall) and it was fine. I much prefer having hard wired connection though so if at all possible to run a cable its the way I would go.

Running CAD etc should be ok as long as you are not doing it at the same time as Mach is running the machine, my preference is defintely to have a computer totally dedicated to the machine but lots of others do their CAD on the same computers.

Hood

[Hood]

Good point, and apologies for not saying it up front. It's being used on a Taig mill.



Yup, I realize that. I was hoping things had changed since I last looked at hardware for Mach3, but apparently not. Unfortunately one of the needs for this machine is running the field-portable tensile testing machine (which is used to test mountaineering equipment out in the field nowhere near a power outlet), which kinda means laptop. Having two separate machines would be the easy answer, but that's not really an option due to funding issues.

Laptops are only officially supported by Artsoft if using an external controller although older ones can run Mach quite well when using the parallel port, its just a case of try and see I am afraid.

Lots are using Laptops with the SmoothStepper and dont seem to have issues, I am not sure about the other external controllers but would imagine them to be the same.

If I was to be using a computer as a multipurpose one then I think I would set up a dual boot and keep one for the machine only and boot to the other for the other tasks.
Having said that when using external controllers its not so critical as a lot of the overheads have been taken away from Mach and most importantly the pulsing. Also the majority of the problems encountered by having all sorts of programmes on a computer is that they can interfere with the Mach driver and its pulsing. If using an external controller then this should no longer be a problem.
Hood