Orac memory can it be increased

[NICKJONES111]

I have a 1984 Orac, but also a very advanced commercial CAD/CAM software (Alphacam) luckily with an Orac post and comms to the machine. The only problem is the limited size of the Orac memory. Is there any way this can be increased ? I don't really want to go down the route of driving the Orac from a PC as I would then have inferior CAM software to the Alphacam ! Thanks Nick

[davidimurray]

I don't really want to go down the route of driving the Orac from a PC as I would then have inferior CAM software to the Alphacam

I don't get this comment I would imagine that your CAM software produces G-code ? Most, if not all the PC driven CNC controllers will open a text file of G-code. I've run files with 1000s of lines of code on my PC controlled starturn at home.

Unfortunatly I think you will be out of luck on the memory expansion front. Mr Magoo can probably tell you more.

[Mr Magoo]

No good news from me I'm afraid!

- The Orac memory can not be upgraded

- The Orac does not support DNC (drip feed)

So your only option is to split the program into lots of small ones that will fit into memory

[NICKJONES111]

Thanks for your replies. Decided to scrap all the original control and have retrofitted with PC control using Mach3 software, CNC4PC breakout board , Gecko microstepping drives plus encoders driven by handwheels for manually moving each axis. As suggested I can use the Mach3 to load the G code created by Alphacam. Nice up to date machine now !