SprutCAM and decent computer configuration

[ddanutz1]

Hello all,

I am running SprutCAM 2007 for two years already, and i was considering the possibility to move to V7.
Testing results were not very good on a PC with following configuration:
Dell Precision 490, Dual Core Xeon 3.0GHz, 8GB of Ram, Windows 7, Nvidia Quadro FX3500 with 256MB of RAM.
Problems i got: computer froze for 5-6 seconds during new toolpath generation, often memorry acces violation, during simulation strange things happen like the tool does not touch the workpiece all time or model does not refresh. Also, during simulation, computer starts to move slower and slower, the more simulation goes to the next toolpath.
I was wondering if this is a software issue, or just something related with PC configuration.
By the way, what is the PC configuration you are running the V7 on, with best results (no froze, no memory access violation, etc)? What about the operating system, does XP offer more stability?

Thank you for your comments,
ddanutz

[bevinp]

Hi DD,
I have a three year old laptop running Vista with 2GB of RAM and much less graphics power than yours. It runs SC7.1.2 build 399xxx without a problem. I don't think your problems are being caused by your computer configuration.

As a first step I would uninstall and re-install SC7. By the way, did you uninstall 2007 before loading SC7?

Bevin

[ddanutz1]

Hi Bevinp,

Thank you for your reply. I have not uninstalled the 2007 version before the 7. I am afraid if i will do that now, i will loose the 1month temporary key.
Build 399xxx is not available on Sprutcam's server...
Do you think previous builds were more stable?

Thanks,
ddanutz

[Magnum164]

SprutCAM uses OPENGL for graphics. The latest build V7 1.3 that I have included improved OPENGL routines. This made a huge improvement in access violation errors and my system slowing down. It still slows down, but when it does I use that as a time to stretch/take a break and reboot my machine.

EDIT: I should also mention that MS does not want to support OPENGL applications as it is in direct competition to there DirectX capabilities. Last time I did any OPENGL programming with Windows (about 6-7 months ago). The OPENGL routines were seriously lacking and way being in revisions.

That being said is why I have more crashes and problems with OPENGL applications running on Windows machines. I may try the Windows 7 OPENGL beta later and see if there are any improvements at all. I have heard some good things about it. If this is in the latest Nvidia drivbers, then all the better.
http://drivers.softpedia.com/progDow...oad-66657.html

[bevinp]

Originally Posted by ddanutz1 Hi Bevinp, Thank you for your reply. I have not uninstalled the 2007 version before the 7. I am afraid if i will do that now, i will loose the 1month temporary key. Build 399xxx is not available on Sprutcam's server... Do you think previous builds were more stable?

There is no guarantee that previous versions are more stable. Based upon this forum posts over the last few years, it seems that each new build fixes some existing bugs but because each new build introduces more capability new bugs are introduced.

I tend to stay with one build that is not buggy (for my config/use) and upgrade every 8 to 12 months.

If I were you, I would uninstall both 2007 and 7, delete all the SC related files/folders you can find (but leave the Registry alone, unless you are confident in cleaning it up) and then install SC7 from Tormach, not SC Russia.

Tormach do some testing of the SC release/build they have on their website and they leapfrog others.

In regard to your trial key, I am sure Tormach would happily give you one month on SC7.
Bevin

[bevinp]

Originally Posted by Magnum164 SprutCAM uses OPENGL for graphics. The latest build V7 1.3 that I have included improved OPENGL routines. This made a huge improvement in access violation errors and my system slowing down. It still slows down, but when it does I use that as a time to stretch/take a break and reboot my machine. EDIT: I should also mention that MS does not want to support OPENGL applications as it is in direct competition to there DirectX capabilities. Last time I did any OPENGL programming with Windows (about 6-7 months ago). The OPENGL routines were seriously lacking and way being in revisions.

Hi Magnum,
I did not know the MS/OpenGL situation. I guess you cannot blame MS for lagging in support of competitor software, but they are so dominant and controlling in other ways ("Genuine Advantage". BS. What a misleading title!!) that they deserve criticism for all things that don't support customers.

Which leads me to a question I have had ever since owning SC. What platform does SC Russia use when producing the code (subsequently porting it to Windows)? The lack of Windows basic features such as CTRL key shortcuts, and no Undo function (except in sketching), makes me wonder if like SketchUp, they use Apple or perhaps Unix as their development platform.

Probably Windows, and the lack of key shortcuts is lazy programming. Although the SC user interface and documentation is certainly improving.
Bevin

[Magnum164]

[quote=bevinp;888127]
Which leads me to a question I have had ever since owning SC. What platform does SC Russia use when producing the code (subsequently porting it to Windows)? The lack of Windows basic features such as CTRL key shortcuts, and no Undo function (except in sketching), makes me wonder if like SketchUp, they use Apple or perhaps Unix as their development platform.
[quote]

Yes, that is common. It's the same reason some games for a PC do not support shortcuts and some of the PC specific features older gamers like. Because now you can write for both the PC and the XBOX360 (PS2,ect). But those features are generally not added to both as it requires more programming.

OPENGL let's them port to Unix/Windows/Macinsquash all from one Codebase. But they can do it from any of the machines.

[ddanutz1]

Hello all,

reading all the above makes me scared...i do not understand much, but having to reboot when PC slows down...
I had V2007 by now, and i found stable and very fast not the last build, but one of the previous, which makes me consider bevinp is right with the new versions introducing new bugs.
there should be however a build stable enough, i was curios what are you running exactly?
Also, do you know if the Tormach's build will work with same USB key as SC Russia, and do you know for sure their version is less buggy?
I am waiting for the new USB key following days, and hopefully have more possibilities to test different versions.

regards,
ddanutz

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by ddanutz1 Hello all, reading all the above makes me scared...i do not understand much, but having to reboot when PC slows down... I had V2007 by now, and i found stable and very fast not the last build, but one of the previous, which makes me consider bevinp is right with the new versions introducing new bugs. there should be however a build stable enough, i was curios what are you running exactly? Also, do you know if the Tormach's build will work with same USB key as SC Russia, and do you know for sure their version is less buggy? I am waiting for the new USB key following days, and hopefully have more possibilities to test different versions. regards, ddanutz

I can post my build at home, but it was the latest from the Tormach site. But that is correct, new builds introduce new errors in any software but doubt that is an issue for SC.

That is why I get frustrated when you post a problem and the first response from people is to make sure your video drivers are up to date. There is no reason to update drivers unless it resolves an issue you are having. Same with software like SC.

For instance my company is still on Windows XP... Skipped Vista completely due to the problems and moving to Windows 7 soon. There was just no reason to make the jump if what you had was working

Hve no idea on the USB key, best to check with Tormach. However I have used my USB key on both the Russian and Tormach versions without a problem. You just have to load the Tormach original files first.

[ddanutz1]

Hi,

You are right magnum, we also do not make any upgrade if the system works fine, it could run the same for more than 1-2 years.
The issue with the 2007 version of SC was that waterline finishing took way to much time to calculate, the finishing drive was almost impossible to use. If it wasn't that, we wouldn't have moved to V7 for anything.
I hope current version will be improved in the next period and we will finally get the stability that everybody wish for.

Regards,
ddanutz

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by ddanutz1 Hi, You are right magnum, we also do not make any upgrade if the system works fine, it could run the same for more than 1-2 years. The issue with the 2007 version of SC was that waterline finishing took way to much time to calculate, the finishing drive was almost impossible to use. If it wasn't that, we wouldn't have moved to V7 for anything. I hope current version will be improved in the next period and we will finally get the stability that everybody wish for. Regards, ddanutz

Hmmm.. Come to think of it, when I first got SC I was trying the waterline and SC was crashing a lot. Maybe my most severe crashes were due to using the waterline? I may go back to those old projects I gave up on and try and retry them.

[ddanutz1]

Hi Magnum...

update us also on your conclusion with the waterline pls

ddanutz