I was wondering if something like this would work to replace the floppy drives in a Centurion 6 and 5:
http://www.acscontrol.com/Index_ACS.asp?Page=/Pages/Products/CompactFlash/IDE_To_CF_Adapter.htm

Looks promising.
I was hopping something like a USB port could be installed but this could be an alternative for only $20. With floppies going they way of 8 tract tapes we need to find something soon that will transfer large (3MB or more) files.

I use these CF IDE adapters a lot; they work well. BUT they are not hot plugable! You cannot take the CF card out or plug one in whil ethe pc is running because the adapter is connected to the IDE channel. If you try it will blow teh card and maybe the ide controller also.

I used something similar that I got from geeks.com ($12) to replace the hard drive in my shop computer! Solid state and plugs right in. NO problems!

I put a 100 meg Zip drive in my machine. I didn't get it from milltronics though. I also put in a hard drive so I can DNC large files from it. You can load a 20 meg file from the zip drive faster than a 1 meg from the floppy.

Mortek,
What controller do you have? I have a 5 and a 6 that need upgrading, although the Cent5 is too slow to bother with anymore. Our Cent6 has a hard drive already; the problem is or will be someday, getting large files to the hard drive.

Our Cent6 machine came with a 120MB Supperdisk drive that works ok for now (we’ve replaced it twice already). My concern is that someday I’m going to be up a creek when it dies again. They don’t make the disks or drives anymore. Do they still make Zip drives and disks? I used them for years in computers but they eventually wore out also. I can still find some on eBay but that is a crap shoot at best.

I’m looking for a long term solution. Something with no moving parts to wear out. I found that downloading from RS232 is painfully slow for these large files. Could I just replace the drive with a reader that has a USB port or do we need to upgrade the operating system in the controller also to recognize the USB drive?

I’ve tried to get Milltronics to respond to these questions but they haven’t for some reason. I even tried to email them using their website’s information request form on the service page but it has a limit of one or two short sentences, stupid.

My machine is a cent 6 also. I bought it in the fall of 1997. My hard drive is a standard ide drive. My control only allows me to use I think 2 gig of it. So I have to partition it before I put it in. I Put the zip drive in sometime around 2000. I have replaced it once. The disks get screwed up once in a while, but they are cheap on ebay. I would be interested in installing the compact flash reader also, because of no moving parts. I just don't know how to do it. I don't think my mother board will support the usb port. The reader mentioned above sounds interesting, I just don't know if it is compatible with my control.

From what fyffe555 is saying it’s probably is not going to work anyway. I have one of these on my desktop computer:reader (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1270859&CatId=942)

But I think your right about the mother boards in the Cent6 not accepting it.

Hey bubba....a P/N would help....thanks....nice site....but ya can get lost...

ViperTX,
Try F-ADIDE2CF-B1, its found under the "IDE Adapters" and are $11.99 ea.

TY Bubba.

The CF card reader would not be a good replacement for the floppy drive if you had to shut the machine down every time you wanted to take the card out or put it in.

I've been told today that you can get serial (rs232) to CF adapters that do let you hot plug the cf card. No idea if that's true nor do I have any links. It also depends what you do have available on the base machine I guess..

you could also get a rs232 to network adapter

Guys, thanks for the information.

Please forgive me for reviving and old thread. I have a Centurion 6. I'm just now starting to use my CAD/CAM software. Naturally, the floppy is no longer practical.

Did the RS232 to CF reader work? Is it hot pluggable? Can I convert to USB (preferred method)?

Thanks in advance.

Here is a direct link for a cf to ide adapter. Two styles available. http://www.buyextras.com/syhiquidetoc.html

Call Bob at Milltronics 952-442-1401 and order the multimedia drive kit and software upgrade then you can use USB or a memory stick or flash drive.

Mortek,
What controller do you have? I have a 5 and a 6 that need upgrading, although the Cent5 is too slow to bother with anymore. Our Cent6 has a hard drive already; the problem is or will be someday, getting large files to the hard drive.

Our Cent6 machine came with a 120MB Supperdisk drive that works ok for now (we’ve replaced it twice already). My concern is that someday I’m going to be up a creek when it dies again. They don’t make the disks or drives anymore. Do they still make Zip drives and disks? I used them for years in computers but they eventually wore out also. I can still find some on eBay but that is a crap shoot at best.

I’m looking for a long term solution. Something with no moving parts to wear out. I found that downloading from RS232 is painfully slow for these large files. Could I just replace the drive with a reader that has a USB port or do we need to upgrade the operating system in the controller also to recognize the USB drive?

I’ve tried to get Milltronics to respond to these questions but they haven’t for some reason. I even tried to email them using their website’s information request form on the service page but it has a limit of one or two short sentences, stupid.

Have you tried calling Milltronics? 952.442.1401, option 1 for service or option 3 for parts. They can help you with your questions. Most likely you can purchase a card reader in addition to your floppy drive. I advise that you do not rid of the floppy due to resoration of parameters if needed.

I called service and they said I need to upgrade the controller for a cost of $1600 plus $300 for network card and software. I think I may do it when time permits later this year. They didn’t say and I forgot to ask how much for the card reader. They did say that a USB port would not work because these controllers are DOS based and DOS doesn’t support USB.

I called service and they said I need to upgrade the controller for a cost of $1600 plus $300 for network card and software. I think I may do it when time permits later this year. They didn’t say and I forgot to ask how much for the card reader. They did say that a USB port would not work because these controllers are DOS based and DOS doesn’t support USB.

$900 for the multi card reader.

Call Bob at Milltronics 952-442-1401 and order the multimedia drive kit and software upgrade
I just called him. The total price for the kit is $2,800!


I think I'll just use a CF adapter, even though it's not hot pluggable. It would be a hassle to reboot and rehome the machine, but I rarely use large files (for now, that will change in the near future).

It would be really nice to have the upgrade, but I don't think it's worth the money.

Fyffe555 wrote:
I've been told today that you can get serial (rs232) to CF adapters

Is the RS232 reasonably fast for large files? Will it work with DOS based 486 computers?

I hope I'm not speaking out of turn here. I have used DOS-based TurboCNC on several machines and have swapped files between my Windows cad/cam computer and the machine controller via serial with a program called Texas Z-Modem and also via floppy disk and CF card (pros and cons for each). I am presently restoring a Partner IV with a new motherboard (all original Centurion electronics gone when I got the machine). Anyway, the new motherboard works perfectly with USB flash drives in DOS. I think this is a function of the motherboard/chipset/bios.

When I read this thread and hear the costs quoted to update something simple like file transfer, I wonder why not just bring in a local computer tech and configure a fix, or even do a software/controller retrofit?

The old 144MB floppy drives (not 1.44 but a full 144 MB) might fix your problems. Surpluscomputers has them for $5 which includes two 144MB floppies along with the drive. Link here http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=DRV10908

The only problem with this drive is that you will need a driver for DOS, Win3.1 or Win95A. Support is built into anything after Win95B. It does not attach to the floppy cable but is instead an EIDE drive like a hard disk so you will lose one of your channels with this hookup. I bought four of the things and they work great but I am not using DOS. I have looked for the DOS driver and can't find it. Maybe you will have better luck with a DOS driver than I had.