Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

any experiance with using the small atom processor boards?

I see this is an older post but I thought I would reply. I did a bunch of initial set-up, tuning and testing with a small ATOM based Netbook an HP Mini. Seemed to work ok. I never ran any code or actual cutting but it did config and jog the mill no problems!

Gerald

Hi,

Speaking of revisiting old posts...I recently bought an Acorn for a Sherline Lathe/Gecko G540 retrofit and bought a used 10" Acer, Atom based, WIN10 laptop/tablet combo for the project chiefly for the touchscreen. The software installed okay and I was able to get to the config screen, but when I try to start CNC12 it appears to hang on the initializing MPU screen. Is the Atom processor not up to the task of driving an Acorn? Just wondering.

Thanks in advance,
Geoman_Tony

if you are just drilling holes and making pockets or running a lathe you can get away with it, (be sure not to be running any other programs at the same time), if you want to run short vector g code programs like engraving files or 3D files and use smoothing Or if you want to Digitize the Atom is not going to be up to the task.

CncKeith,

Thanks for the speedy reply. I'm thinking of the Atom for the very short term, in the longer run you guys may have convinced me on the NUC. A follow up question on the Atom: When I first set it up I said "yes" to private network and "no" for public. (I was thinking that I wouldn't be making chips in a coffee house so that option would be a non-issue.) I re-watched the You Tube video on setting it up and there the word was to say "Yes" to both. How do I get back to the screen where I can re-pick those options?

Kind regards,
Geoman_Tony

You will need to go into the Control Panel, System and Security, and then Windows Defender Firewall. You will want to take a look at "Allow and App through Windows Firewall".

Why bother with an ATOM board?
You can find build plenty of PC's for $200-$300.
I use the Lenovo Tiny M92Ps come up on ebay ALL the time, Intel I5 2.9GHZ PC, usually can be found with WIN10 already installed and 4GB of memory. Add SSD and you are golden.

I have found any Intel processor running at 2.9GHZ or better meets the minimum system requirements. Celeron on up.

Marty