Need Help!- FreeMill Errors

[BlueFin]

I am trying the MecSoft FreeMill program and when I get to the post G Code section it throws an error that nothing was posted to an external file. I am using Vista so I don't know if Vista is causing problems or not. Is anyone else using this program with success?

[dertsap]

might be a vista thing ? I've used it quite a bit and I never had any issues until i installed it onto this 64bit pc that runs xp , Ive never had the same issue as you've got but I've had it freeze up on this pc , its a great program so i hope you can find a work around

[BlueFin]

Originally Posted by dertsap might be a vista thing ? I've used it quite a bit and I never had any issues until i installed it onto this 64bit pc that runs xp , Ive never had the same issue as you've got but I've had it freeze up on this pc , its a great program so i hope you can find a work around

Thanks, I have a hard drive coming for a XP machine so maybe I will try it on that. I also may not be doing my .STL right either since I have only made one before and that was the one I tried with FreeMill. I ought to just buy Meshcam and get on with it, but the thought of making a set of 3D salt and pepper shakers for Christmas with free software is pretty cool.

[yohudi]

Hi there,

re: posting problems...

personally I don't use Vista... (wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole having watched it's performance on my kids system) so I'm not 100% sure if this will cure your problem or not but.... In the past when people have reported problems posting with FreeMill it has turned out to be this issue.

FreeMill posts to an ascii file called temp.acl. If there is no application on the system registered to open the .acl file extension then this can prevent successful posting.

To fix .... create an ascii text file and save it as anyname.acl.... be sure that it does have just .acl as the extension and that Mr Gates hideous OS does not automatically tag .txt on the end.... then opt to 'Open with' 'Notepad.exe' and to 'always use notepad for files of this type'. Hopefully this should cure the problem.. It did for the last Vista user who reported this problem to me...


re: Freezing below XP

Freezing or lock up is usually down to OpenGL drivers if anything... If this is the problem the freeze usually occurs on the 'set cutting plane' or 'Set Zero' pages... I don't normally use XP either.. (for same reasons I won't use vista.. too much unnessecary '*!() hidden away in the OS) .. so I couldn't swear to this being the problem... but lock up is almost definitely down to OpenGL drivers when the screen redraws the cutting plane.

Hope this helps

Danny

[BlueFin]

Hi, Thanks for the information. I may still try it yet, but I am using an evaluation version of Meshcam now and have been so impressed with it that I am going to purchase a copy of it. I did speak with the free mill people and they indicated that it did not work on Vista, so I tried it on XP and got the same failed error. But what you said makes sense with the file extension stuff.

Thanks Again.

[BurrMan]

Originally Posted by BlueFin I am trying the MecSoft FreeMill program and when I get to the post G Code section it throws an error that nothing was posted to an external file. I am using Vista so I don't know if Vista is causing problems or not. Is anyone else using this program with success?

WHen you attempt to launch Freemill, right clcik it and choose "Run as administrator". Be sure you choose an account that has administrative privalages. If that doesnt work. Right clcik the icon you use to launch it and choose properties. Then go to the compatabilty tab and choose xp compatability. DIsable UAC from the control panel users applet.

Dont listen to anybody telling you your OS is bad. Thats just somebody that doesnt know how to run their computer.

I can re-create your error by trying to post in FreeMill while operating in a limited user account. Vista will have 3 levels of security that need to be addressed, and though your app may not be develped for "Vista", it can be set to run in that OS anyway.

Post back if you need more help. I'll check back to continue a bit further if you need.

[yohudi]

Originally Posted by BurrMan Dont listen to anybody telling you your OS is bad. Thats just somebody that doesnt know how to run their computer.

Hi There,

An operating system is only as good as it's performance as far as I'm concerned... On my kids system, which they use only to access the web I might add... more time is spent installing Vista patches and updates than using the machine...

As part of my day-to-day work I run between 16 and 18 machines networked as a small render farm for 3DS Max.. Hardware I've accumulated over the course of about 15 to 20 years.... All the machines quite happliy run win 2k.. essentially XP before Microsoft decided to 'improve' it and really nothing more than Windows NT4 with multimedia support. I see nothing at all in XP or Vista that would tempt me to 'upgrade' across the network with either. In fact on some of the older hardware I doubt XP or Vista would actually run at all.

Perhaps you could advise me how the performance of my rendering network would be improved by 18 installations of Vista. In what way would this improve the operation of mission critical software such as high-end 3D rendering applications ?

Regards

Danny (aka Yohudi.)

[ger21]

Originally Posted by yohudi Perhaps you could advise me how the performance of my rendering network would be improved by 18 installations of Vista. In what way would this improve the operation of mission critical software such as high-end 3D rendering applications ? Regards Danny (aka Yohudi.)

That's not what he's saying. It's pretty common knowledge that Vista is slow and uses lots of memory. But with proper setup, it should run most software.

[yohudi]

Originally Posted by ger21 That's not what he's saying. It's pretty common knowledge that Vista is slow and uses lots of memory. But with proper setup, it should run most software.

Hi There,

Thanks for your input...

I don't take issue with the point that XP / Vista should be able to run most software... albeit after some cajoling here or there. My point is that depending on your area of interest, it's not always advantageous to tweak, patch or force this to happen just to run a particular OS.

I do take issue with his statement that, expressing less than favourable opinions regarding a given OS indicates inability to run computer hardware/software....

Regards

Danny (aka Yohudi)

[BurrMan]

Hi Danny,

Here's my take on it. It' s less a personal attack on you as more support for BlueFin.

A guy enters the forum, with a need for help with what in my view "Is a very minor problem" that I know is not a critical error.

I see a response from a guy, who obviously has a chip on his shoulder, giving him no good advice, essentially telling him he has a crappy system. If I was that guy, I would have left here feeling worse than when I came in, and no better off.

You did him a "dis-service".

With regard to upgrading your farm...There is a lot more to that decision than just the OS choice. But if you were my IT guy, I certainly wouldnt sink much money in it yet...

Speaking as if a microsoft product is inadequate because you cant deal with it and you have a 15 computer farm really is making yourself look bad. I mean, right now, as I type, I switch my KVM switch to another computer where I'm logged on to a Windows Server 2008 enterprise running 46 computers across 3 states. Seems to be working for me ok. Is there something you can tell me about why I should revert the system to windows 2000?

Take a breath, and try to be some help to someone that needs it. Instead of "chip on his shoulder guy". You probably have some good experience that would be valuable for many.

I dont want to make a battle with you. I could have done without making my snide comment....Just wanted bluefin to have confidence about his system and know that there is always an answer.

[BurrMan]

Danny,
I re-read your original post.

I made a mistake. I guess I read what I "wanted to read" and not really what you wrote. Skimming too fast.

I apologize. "I" made the snide remarks directed at your post. You were genuinely offering advice to bluefin regarding his issue.

I feel bad about my post. It's not my intent

I would delete the comment, but dont want to hide what i said as if I didnt make a mistake. Turns out, I am Guy with chip on my shoulder! Taking a breath now.

Burr

[yohudi]

Originally Posted by BurrMan Danny, I re-read your original post....... Taking a breath now. Burr

Hi There,

I wouldn't worry about it, I've made enough mistakes myself along the way .... and I'm sure I'll make plenty more.... Sometimes I think I only open my mouth to change feet

Also I should say that I didn't mean to imply or suggest there was anything inferior anout Bluefin's system or setup... just to state that I don't have experience of running Vista or XP day to day... by reason of personal preference.... I could have simply stated that, rather than taking a dig at Microsoft...



All the best

Danny