Mach control unit, operating system??

[DomB]

Hi there,

I am in the process of planning and building a cnc mil/router. I would like to use the mach3 software. I am deciding, with a little help from one of my other posts, whether to use a seperate pc to control the machine of just to use the cadcam pc.

Now, if I choose to use a seperate PC, is there anyway I can just have mach on it with no windows operating system? I want people to turn on the machine and a few moments later the mach screen appears with the operator having no concept of any operating system running in the back ground.

Perhaps if mach3 is too reliant on lots of the tools from windows to execute its own program, then might it be possible to have some sort of batch file that boots up mach every time the controller is turned on, again so windows does not appear.

The best would be to be able to run mach with dos, so windows is not even on the system at all. Is this possible.

You can build a pc dirt cheap, but windows always costs a fortune to make the package complete.

Is there a cut down version of windows like 'windows elements'? That may be cheaper?

Please no replys about pirate windows, this is for a legitimate company use so this is not an option.

Many thanks

Dom

[ger21]

You must use Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Check www.newegg.com for an OEM copy. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116169

[Kipper]

Nope it cant be done Dom! You cant keep the employee out of the "fun section" install XP and dont skimp on the "solitaire" When you say "people" I'm presuming you mean slav...er employees cut down or curtail the broadband access and stop a whole myriad of windows bloatware from running in the background but you must run XP or 2K to have the use of Mach3

[dneisler]

If you really wont to you lock windows funstuff out look into policies and regedits. I locked it down so hard once they could not even close Internet explorer to reboot. I have done it on 500+ pc that deal with the id10t factor everyday on. It can be done, but not easy at all to make it id10t proof.

[MichaelHenry]

It's pretty easy to have Mach load automatically when Windows boots, isn't it?

Mike

[DomB]

Hi
Don't suppose there is a runtime version of windows?

Haha
Dom