how do I get a good waveform on my laptop

[cob]

hellow I just downloaded the mach 3 on my laptop but when i go intal the driver test to check the system I was first gettin a crazy wave form then I whent into the SPECIAL DRIVER.BAT and install that one then try testing it again and know I get NO wave form on the screen does anyone know what I can do to get a good wave form

[mc-motorsports]

What is the processor speed and ram?

[cob]

Originally Posted by mc-motorsports What is the processor speed and ram?

I am not really a computer person but how do i figure it out or where do I look that up

[mc-motorsports]

If your using XP, and probably Vista, goto the START menu ==> CONTROL PANEL ==> PERFORMANCE AND MATIENCE ==> SYSTEM and it should tell you the processor speed and RAM down near the bottom.

[cob]

Originally Posted by mc-motorsports If your using XP, and probably Vista, goto the START menu ==> CONTROL PANEL ==> PERFORMANCE AND MATIENCE ==> SYSTEM and it should tell you the processor speed and RAM down near the bottom.

ok looked it up and this is what it said, its a microsoft windows XP, AMD athlon 64 processor, 797MHZ, 512MB of ram. by the way thanks for helping me. I really want to get my mill running.

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by cob ok looked it up and this is what it said, its a microsoft windows XP, AMD athlon 64 processor, 797MHZ, 512MB of ram. by the way thanks for helping me. I really want to get my mill running.

Too slow, you need a computer with a faster processor. 2.4g is the minimum, your at about 1/3 of that. I run a computer that's 3.6gig processor and 1gig of RAM, had a friend build it from scratch, just went to MicroCenter and bought everything that was on sale, ended up costing about $300. I think you can get a refurbished tower for about $200 that will work, check MicroCenter's website and ebay.

MC

[cob]

hellow again since my laptop is not fast enough is there a way that I can just program on different cam system like mastercam and just send the g codes without using a controller screeen. is that posible.

[mc-motorsports]

There are cheaper and easier controllers out there. Maybe DeskNC or something like that? I know there were quite a few years ago, but I think Mach put most of them out of business. Do a google seach and find one that runs under DOS which will require A LOT less processor simply because it won't be as graphical and you won't be running the "Windows XP virus"

MC

[cob]

Originally Posted by mc-motorsports Too slow, you need a computer with a faster processor. 2.4g is the minimum, your at about 1/3 of that. I run a computer that's 3.6gig processor and 1gig of RAM, had a friend build it from scratch, just went to MicroCenter and bought everything that was on sale, ended up costing about $300. I think you can get a refurbished tower for about $200 that will work, check MicroCenter's website and ebay. MC

hellow again
i know switch to a tower pc and this is what is what this one says pentium (R) 4cpu 3.20GHz, 320GHz, 504MB of ram. so I downloaded the mach 3 and it crash my computer, so I did like the tutorial said load the other program called special driver.bat then I ran the driver test again and know it will not give me a wave form at all. does any know what I am doing wrong or is this pc not fast enough.

[Torchhead]

What kinda "waveform" are you talking about? The drivertest puts out information in the DRO's and the waveform is better the flatter it is! If it's a flat line your in good shape!

When did your computer crash? After tying to run MACH, During the install or just loading MACH after rebooting from the install? Is it XP?

TOM CAUDLE
www.CandCNC.com

[cob]

Originally Posted by Torchhead What kinda "waveform" are you talking about? The drivertest puts out information in the DRO's and the waveform is better the flatter it is! If it's a flat line your in good shape! When did your computer crash? After tying to run MACH, During the install or just loading MACH after rebooting from the install? Is it XP? TOM CAUDLE www.CandCNC.com

I install mach and ones it installed I didnt reboot i also installed lazy cam and some other program. everything was fine it install all 3 programs, but after rebooting mach it just crash my computer, so then the computer restarted then I went to my mach files and ran the driver test it say complete but it just will not show any waveforms at all. it is an xp, so can you tell what I am doing wrong.

[dertsap]

go into the mach folder and click on "special driver"
that should resolve the crashing issue
i had mach run on a pc with 550mhz with 256 ram and had absolutely no problem ,its now connected to my kids cnc , ive tryed mach on 2 different laptops and both sent a choppy signal (ran like crap) , the one laptop is 1.8ghz with 512 ram .

from what i have gathered and understand is laptops tend to send a weaker signal .
correct me if i'm wrong but with the minimal research that ive done on the subject thats the impression ive gotten

you could try emc2 on your laptop , you can get the live cd so you can test it without having to do an install