[tahustvedt]

When I run big files with several MB of G-code, for example 3D jobs, the toolpath window runs at a very slow frame rate. Will a fast video card improve this, and perhaps lessen the load on the CPU? If I have the watchdog enabled I get watchdog triggers every time I load a big file or recalculate the toolpath with a big file loaded, but not with simle jobs.

My video card is from 2006, or something like that. It's a Radeon X1950 Pro. My CPU is a Core 2 Duo 6400, I believe, and I have 4 GB of RAM installed. Windows XP 32bit

[ger21]

Short answer is no. The entire Mach3 screen is updated 10x/second, and is fixed at that rate.

The Mach3 toolpath display is also very resource intensive, and a better video card won't really help much at all.
Your best option is to turn off the toolpath display when running large g-code files.

[tahustvedt]

Ok, but the frame rate can drop to much lower than that. 1-2 fps is not out of the ordinary with heavy jobs.

[hjl4]

No kidding. I new something was up with the toolpath screen. For the longest time I couldn't figure out why every time I switch over to the toolpath screen, the machine would shudder just a step or two, but it worried me. So I eventually gave up on toolpath display when actually cutting with the machine. It is however a very useful tool if you want to preview the toolpath before machining.

[ger21]

If basic jobs (< 1000 lines) slow down on the toolpath screen, then your PC is really marginal for running Mach3.
My 2010 Screenset uses a large toolpath display, and I've had about 5 people that had PC's that wouldn't work with it, when they worked fine withthe standard screenset. I know at least one tried a better video card, and it made no difference.

Ok, but the frame rate can drop to much lower than that. 1-2 fps is not out of the ordinary with heavy jobs.

The only way to know for sure is to try a new card. But this has always been a long standing issue, and the simplest remedy is to just turn off the toolpath on large jobs.

[tahustvedt]

I should mention that I am running my own custom screenset, with a very large toolpath window compared to stock.

[hjl4]

Well ger21, I think that toolpath is not really necessary when doing the actual machining. Just look at what you are cutting. The toolpath for me is pretty much useless as there is no read ahead feature giving you enough time to react if a problem should show up. That's my opinion anyways. My processor is 1.6ghz. Fast enough with 1 gig of ram. It is truly getting ridiculous when a machine such as a mill needs more processing power. After all, you can't process any faster then the parallel port allows. So for graphics, then yes I agree. As far as I'm concerned, many have made their own screensets, and then complain about how things are not performing as well. But few consider the minimalistic approach to maximize their machines performance. After trying your screenset, I agree, it performs very well. But as I said in another thread, 3D is not for me. Give me a 2D GUI, and its good enough. It gets the job done with no frills and no flash.
So all in all, it's up to user preference. If toolpath is an issue, then as you said , turn it off or upgrade the computer.

[samco]

From what I understand ( and I am a linuxcnc person) that mach4 will have opengl preview.. If it is anything like linuxcnc - it will be a very nice improvement. It still amazes me how nice linuxcnc previews toolpaths.. (no realtime issues as long as you are using opensource video drivers)



sam

[ger21]

Yes, the Mach4 toolpath is far superior. It's just a question of when we'll get to use it.

[Bob La Londe]

Your best option is to turn off the toolpath display when running large g-code files.

Abso-freaking-lutely. I run large files all the time. Mostly intensive 3D stuff. A couple hundred thousand lines of code are common. Several hundred thousand lines of code are not uncommon, and I have cut a couple jobs with over a million lines of code`. There is no way those can be done with the tool path display tuned on. I can predict a crash or a bad cut with nearly 100% certainty if I try. Instead I look at the actual job, and the history file to keep track of where I am in a job. I even have little CCCTV cameras inside the enclosure to help keep an eye on things.