Need help My friends PC/CNC ?

Cue Crazy

Cue Crazy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm thinking about picking a cheap laptop up to play around with and possibly use with My first CNC setup. My question is, what size proccesor is big enough to run most programs? I know some newer software is more advanced, but more then likely My first setup will be fairly basic using the somewhat cheaper software programs.

Wondering If a 1 to 1.2 gig laptop with a pentium 3 is enough to run most software, or should I be shooting for something more? also how does a laptop compare to a tower system? Are there any major concerns or differences? I don't think I'll be running anything as big as geckos for a while, but would like to have that option should I ever decide to upgrade.

More then likely the first controller I use will be stand alone, except for where It plugs into the printer port, or what have you.

Also How much ram is needed, Is 256 enough, or should I double that right out the gate?

I'm looking at a 1.2 gig P3, and a 2.0 P4, ofcoarse I would like to save the money for something else if the 2.0 Is just overkill anyhow, so I'm wondering if the P3 would be enough for me?

Any info would be very apprietiated, Thanks Guys.:)

Greg C
 
Cue Crazy said:
I'm thinking about picking a cheap laptop up to play around with and possibly use with My first CNC setup. My question is, what size proccesor is big enough to run most programs? I know some newer software is more advanced, but more then likely My first setup will be fairly basic using the somewhat cheaper software programs.

Wondering If a 1 to 1.2 gig laptop with a pentium 3 is enough to run most software, or should I be shooting for something more? also how does a laptop compare to a tower system? Are there any major concerns or differences? I don't think I'll be running anything as big as geckos for a while, but would like to have that option should I ever decide to upgrade.

More then likely the first controller I use will be stand alone, except for where It plugs into the printer port, or what have you.

Also How much ram is needed, Is 256 enough, or should I double that right out the gate?

I'm looking at a 1.2 gig P3, and a 2.0 P4, ofcoarse I would like to save the money for something else if the 2.0 Is just overkill anyhow, so I'm wondering if the P3 would be enough for me?

Any info would be very apprietiated, Thanks Guys.:)

Greg C
Click to expand...

the short answer:
1. it doesn't take much computer power to run
the PC based CNC packages - so - the first one would be OK

2. I would opt for the tower/desktop PC.

The right answer:
I strongly recomend you identify exactly which CNC package you
will use first.
The vendor will tell you what PC configuration is required/recomended

Dale
 
That would depend what CAM software you are going to use.
The controller only requires 1 GHZ ( like Mach 3 ) and XP.
 
Hi,
Overkill is a good thing regarding a pc driven cnc. Programs like Mach3 run in windows through the parallel port. XP is best for Mach3 but windows uses a lot of memory, and if your micro stepping, and using fine lead screws your running a lot of data quickly. Art doesn't recommend laptops. Get a powerful tower, lots of ram, and keep the PC clean with only the programs neccessary to run the machine, and you'll be happier camper in the long run. My motto, get the best, overkill it, and you'll only have to do it once. It will be a better machine.
As said before, best to know what software first, and get whats recommended, plus some.
Dennis
 
searingcue said:
Hi,
Overkill is a good thing regarding a pc driven cnc. Programs like Mach3 run in windows through the parallel port. XP is best for Mach3 but windows uses a lot of memory, and if your micro stepping, and using fine lead screws your running a lot of data quickly. Art doesn't recommend laptops. Get a powerful tower, lots of ram, and keep the PC clean with only the programs neccessary to run the machine, and you'll be happier camper in the long run. My motto, get the best, overkill it, and you'll only have to do it once. It will be a better machine.
As said before, best to know what software first, and get whats recommended, plus some.
Dennis
Click to expand...
Tap, tap, tap.
 
Hi,
I run Mach 3 on an old Dell laptop in the shop, could not tell you what the processor is, probably a P2 or P3. I run a xylotec 4 axis processor for the mill and have had no problems with it. The only programs loaded on the Dell are Windows XP and Mach 3. I use my other laptop for CAD and transfer via CD between the two. As Dennis said, overkill is good. I use external hard drives to save drawing files and delete all the .txt G code programs after running and finishing the cue. I still have the CD with all the .txt programs on them, but it is just as easy to generate the new G code from the original drawing.
Dont know if this helps,
Safe turning,
Kenny
 
Thank You guys, Yes just I read up alittle to find out, and see the delima now, The cam takes up around 1 gig by It'self. Atleast that's what it says for Mach2. Looks like 2gig or higher would be nice.

I have a tower setup already that I could use, It's about 1.8-2 gigs, forget what kind of proccessor, 60 gig HD, and have access to plenty of extra ram to load It up with If needed. HD is clean for the most part, except for a cad program & some other small software, but I could clean the HD,reload the OS easily enough, and dedicate It with only what I will use. It's loaded with XP also. I could buy a more powerfull board & proccessor If it turned out that I needed one I guess.

I'm probably going to build a smaller, light platform to toy with at first & run an xylotex controller with It. Still trying to figure the details on what leadscrews I want use, because I'm afraid of going too cheap on those and need to research them better, but even If I don't get much cue inlaying out of It, I would be happy If It cuts some templates for My manual machine & other simple projects, maybe gain alittle more knowledge from the experience if nothing else.

Thanks for For the advice Gentlemen:)

Greg C
 
Kenny said:
Hi,
I run Mach 3 on an old Dell laptop in the shop, could not tell you what the processor is, probably a P2 or P3. I run a xylotec 4 axis processor for the mill and have had no problems with it. The only programs loaded on the Dell are Windows XP and Mach 3. I use my other laptop for CAD and transfer via CD between the two. As Dennis said, overkill is good. I use external hard drives to save drawing files and delete all the .txt G code programs after running and finishing the cue. I still have the CD with all the .txt programs on them, but it is just as easy to generate the new G code from the original drawing.
Dont know if this helps,
Safe turning,
Kenny
Click to expand...



Sounds simular to what I'm wanting to run. Honestly I like the idea of the compact laptop to run the cnc, but I might be happy just to use the laptop with the drawing software, so it was portable, and run the controller with a tower. So If I use an external hard drive via the usbs, this would be possible without loading up the internal HD's?

I don't know just how good they are, but The laptops I'm looking at are HP compaq evo's, My brother recently got one for pretty cheap with a P3, and It seems pretty fast. I could get the P3 for alittle cheaper or alittle more for the P4 version. The P4 version retailed for around 2 grand when new I believe. One difference in the two of them is battery life is alot better on the P3 I think, but I guess that would'nt matter either way as long as I had the ac adapter, and I should spend the little more for the P4 regardless of how I end up using It.

Thanks for the advice:)

Greg
 
searingcue said:
Hi,
Overkill is a good thing regarding a pc driven cnc. Programs like Mach3 run in windows through the parallel port. XP is best for Mach3 but windows uses a lot of memory, and if your micro stepping, and using fine lead screws your running a lot of data quickly. Art doesn't recommend laptops. Get a powerful tower, lots of ram, and keep the PC clean with only the programs neccessary to run the machine, and you'll be happier camper in the long run. My motto, get the best, overkill it, and you'll only have to do it once. It will be a better machine.
As said before, best to know what software first, and get whats recommended, plus some.
Dennis
Click to expand...

great advise. i would add Greg, keep in mind hardware and software play a huge role on the accuracy of the milling so take that into consideration when choosing your machines and software. after a short while you may want to be able to do certain things that a less accurate system will have trouble with. i subscribe to the "overkill" theory as well.
 
a little off base here but wanted to add that i had conflicts trying to use my cad software on my home computer with WINDOWS XP (HOME VERSION). no problems with either my shop computer or laptop, both of which run XP PRO. i never did try to run the cnc with xp home so can't say on that.
 
Cue Crazy,

I would have to second Dennis' comments on overkill. Do it once!

Having said that, I have run Xylotex 4 axis boards on relatively small processors like an AMD athlon 900 with no problems.

If you choose Mach3, which I highly recommend, you must run XP, but I don't believe it has to be the Pro version. If you choose TurboCNC, then you can get by with a much smaller computer because it runs in DOS. I use Mach3 because it has the ability to output a step and direction signal to a stepper to be used as a spindle. I don't believe that TurboCNC can do that.

I also like to do all my CAD work on a different computer and then transfer files with a USB flash drive. I am planning on setting up a wireless network for file sharing between all my computers. I won't be running files through the network though, only transferring them.

One last thing. I use a laptop for my regular computer at work, I'm typing on it right now. Once I needed another computer to run a machine because one of mine went down. I loaded Mach on this laptop and carried it out into the shop to get the machine back up. When I went to hook it up, I realized that this laptop does not have a parallel port! So if you are going to use a laptop, make sure it has a parallel port before you buy it!

I hope that helps!

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
Greg,
I believe I mentioned it before, but I work on PC's and networks for my pool (playing and creating) money, and although I haven't worked with any machines for CNC purposes, I have worked on a lot of CAD PC's, and I can say without a doubt if you are going to do the duo machine route (one a laptop, one a desktop), from everything I've heard about the actual CNC software, you should use the more powerful desktop to run your CAD software.

It should take up a lot more processor to calculate all of the curves and angles, than it takes to send the g-code instructions to a CNC machine. This is evidenced by the fact that it is sent through a parallel (or if it's an older machine, serial) port. These are quite slow.

If I'm not mistaken Blud uses older laptops to control most of his machines that he sells. He can certainly correct me if I'm wrong, and it's not meant as a slight to his machinery at all. It should not take anywhere near the power to run the CNC as it does the CAD.

JMO.
 
shakes said:
Greg,
I believe I mentioned it before, but I work on PC's and networks for my pool (playing and creating) money, and although I haven't worked with any machines for CNC purposes, I have worked on a lot of CAD PC's, and I can say without a doubt if you are going to do the duo machine route (one a laptop, one a desktop), from everything I've heard about the actual CNC software, you should use the more powerful desktop to run your CAD software.

It should take up a lot more processor to calculate all of the curves and angles, than it takes to send the g-code instructions to a CNC machine. This is evidenced by the fact that it is sent through a parallel (or if it's an older machine, serial) port. These are quite slow.

If I'm not mistaken Blud uses older laptops to control most of his machines that he sells. He can certainly correct me if I'm wrong, and it's not meant as a slight to his machinery at all. It should not take anywhere near the power to run the CNC as it does the CAD.

JMO.
Click to expand...

Everything in electronics changes daily. A person really should have the software first before the computer so that they are compatible. Windows is more stable now than in the past so there are some operating systems that will run fine under them but then there are others that wont. CNC codes are timed and the computer, in many cases, must have the same timing. I believe Fastpath has its own generator so this isn't a problem but with others it could be. I use AhHa CNC software and it cant be installed on a computer that even has windows on it. The fastest computer that it will work under is a D-66 with a doss operating system. Doss is very stable and reliable but is certainly getting much harder to find these days.

Dick
 
Just wanted to thank all You fine folks again for Your advice.:)


I'll take everything into consideration before I jump in too soon. I'm pretty sure they have the parallel ports, so I should be good on that one unless I get one that's burned out. My brother has his loaded up quite a bit already,wireless, with all kinds of software installed, and that thing is way faster then his highest gig tower system that is loaded with hardrives and ram. That's suprising to me because the laptop is only 1 gig 256k 20gigHD at the time. I don't know about timing, but the proccessor speed seems good. He'll have It maxed out with ram and a new larger HD before long though, so I will be able to see what It's really capable of the more he loads It up.
How stable It will be with the software needed I don't know though, guess I'll be taking My chances there, but from what I've seen of It so far, the OS seems really stable. The downfall is it has 2000, and I believe It's known to be a stable OS, so when upgrading to XP as The OS and whatever else for software, It may not be as stable afterall. I have no reason to believe that would be the case, just never know til I try I suppose. I can get a 2.4 gig version of the same laptop with more ram & Xp for probably somewhere around 100 bucks more then His. I'm thinking that may be better no matter which way I end up using It from most of the advice here.

Thanks Guys,

Greg
 
RBC said:
Greg,

Mach3 will operate in Windows 2000. I just checked my Mach2 manual and confirmed it. So you won't have to upgrade to XP.

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
Click to expand...



Hey Thanks alot Royce, That's certainly good news to hear because I have read that 2000 is a fairly stable OS, and as far as I knew, I thought I needed to update to XP for the mach, and that would be more software to take up space, so It's nice to know I would'nt have to add the updates. A high percentage of the adds I see for these laptops I'm looking at, also mentions how fast the proccessor speeds are in them, so apparently It's not just me that thinks they seem fast for what they are. I double checked and they have both serial and parallel ports, as well as usb,audio/video hookups, and who knows what all else. I can't imagine them not being enough for what I'm wanting to use them for, altough I should probably go with the bigger proccesor just to be safe. I'm mainly worried about the proccessor, because I can always add a bigger harddrive or more ram to the system.


Anyway thanks again,

Greg
 
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