Choice of PC to run new PRS alpha

[denmanmarine]

Hi all,

First post here and it looks like a great resource for owners.

I have just purchased a PRS Alpha 120-60 with a 5hp 3ph spindle and can't wait to get my hands on it.

The main use will be cutting kit boats here in Australia.

I am looking to purchase a PC to run the machine and will be building one from scratch. Can anyone advise ideal PC requirements?

regards,

AD

[Bob Eustace]

Welcome to the forum. If you would like to pop across the channel there are three of us in Melbourne. A live demo through the software, speeds and feeds is simply priceless and would get you into full production very quickly. Dont know of any botters in Tassie. There are moves afoot to have our first Camp Shopbot in Oz but it is proving "challenging" due to the tyranny of distance. The experts here will post on your computer question as soon as they all wake up!

[Simops]

AD,

Welcome....always good to hear of another Aussie Shopbotter.....

The control software does not need anything heavy spec wise. If you want to also use VcarvePro or Aspire then I would get a mid range system......i7 CPU with 4 GB RAM is plenty. I would suggest Win7 pro OEM if you can get it (I still can get it here) otherwise Win 8 (I guess I just don't like the look of 8...yet).
I like SSD drives as they are quick but not needed. A mid range nVidia or Radeon video card is fine.
I use an old i5 laptop with Vista and have no probs but I had to get the latest service pack otherwise had trouble with SB control software.

Cheers

[denmanmarine]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Just spent the past day and a half setting up and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the machine. Should have the sparky in this week to hook up and we'll be away - breaking router bits and pulling our hair out with the best of them.

Michael, I am still deciding on a PC but wondered after reading your post if a laptop would suffice to run the machine. Any thoughts?

AD

[jerry_stanek]

The Shopbot doesn't need a lot of cpu power. I can run mine fine with a netbook

[kevin]

You'll have comm error that will be a given will it be because of the computer? You can talk about this till your blue in the face ask 4 people get 4 different answer doesn't mean there all wrong its frustrating

Com error's can cause the machine to go out of square it happened to me

Rule out a slow computer I know guys run them on a laptop .I brought this subject up a couple of years ago shopbot said you didn't need a large computer .In the form there is more on this subject

I think if your running a business get as much computer as you can afford stay away from windows 8 I have it on the laptop but its not tested at shopbot I called
This thing the shopbot is not like running a printer you have 4 motors running at the same time
I wish they used firewire

There also other posts on how to get rid of background programs running in the background
Shipping must be huge to Australia

[jerry_stanek]

There have been more problems with multi core computers than with the older single core units. Also get 2 computers one dedicated to the shopbot that doesn't need to be the newest and greatest strip it down to the bare minimum with black viper and no internet. The other one is for your design computer that you will want a good fast cpu.

[t_vandemark]

I am now running mine from the new Windows Surface Pro tablet. Its dust proof and so far has had more than enough power to run any file and program i want.

[Ajcoholic]

I've been running my shopbot buddy 48 alpha with spindle for just a year and a half now. I've always used a dedicated laptop I bought specifically for this, with windows 7. Also been running the new software for several months now without any issues. There is nothing wrong with a laptop IMO.

[feinddj]

The bot doesn't need anything special to run it. I use a laptop. Get one with a lot of RAM. At least 4 gig. The other thing to look out for is the speed and quantity of the usb outputs. It should have at least three usbs. I have connected mine via a wired lan to my design computer, tucked away in my office, safe from dust. I put all the cut files on a shared drive and firewall the operations computer away from the internet. That way I don't need antivirus or any background programs to keep it safe.

David

[Ajcoholic]

I forgot to mention I too do not use my control computer (the laptop) for anything but that - running the bot and modifying Aspire files. I do not have it hooked to the internet, and everything is turned off that I could. I do take it home and update windows once and a while (every few months) but I have a second laptop I use for running Aspire and creating files.

Mine is sitting beside my SHopbot, but I have an extremely clean shop and no airborne dust. I do blow the computer out once every few weeks for good measure anyhow.

[TJ Cornish]

I am now running mine from the new Windows Surface Pro tablet. Its dust proof and so far has had more than enough power to run any file and program i want.

FYI, the Surface Pro has a fan, so while the keyboard may be dustproof and there isn't a DVD drive to get dirty, the unit is not sealed and can't really be opened for cleaning.

It is a nice and convenient machine, though.