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USB stick file rules.

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 5:30 pm
by steveastrouk
What are the rules for files placed on a USB stick ? Is there a maximum size for the USB stick ? Can the machine navigate directory structures ?

What's the working file ? A .MOL ?

Steve

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:10 pm
by Spooky
Steve,

A decent quality stick with a basic format works best, DON'T use these sticks that have virtual CD roms etc...it will just cause problems.

When importing or openning you can navigate the full directory structure (within the confines of the windows character limitations) from the stick.

.MOL is the run file, it and it partner files contain the co-ordinates and the speed / power settings.

When running an MOL select "Open" from the file menu NOT "IMPORT"

"Import" is used to generate the first run from your DXF file.

hope that helps a bit

rgrds

Dave

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:20 am
by steveastrouk
I have a clean, fat32 stick, newly formatted under XP, so about as basic as it can be, it has two files "test" and "test2" as .mol and .txt files.
When I plug it in the laser, the device reads it, and then gives me the only option "read ALL" - press Enter, it reads the stick, then says remove - but I see no new files in the on-board file list.

Out of interest, have you any idea what the data structure of the .mol file is ? I can see the .txt contains something looking like HPGL or G codes, but the .mol isn't ASCII codes :-(

Steve

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:08 pm
by Spooky
Not sure to be honest Steve, I'll haver a look at one this afternoon and see what I can come up with.

Do you go direct into the Laser from the stick (via the usb port) or are you loading from a PC?

best wishes

Dave

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 5:54 pm
by steveastrouk
Hi Dave,

For reasons best known to my main laptop, it wouldn't accept the USB drivers for the laser, so I was doing the prepararation off-line, and loading VIA the USB stick port.

Steve

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:04 pm
by Spooky
Hiya Steve,

I have no experience of loading direct via the port :( drop Chris or Charli a line I'm sure they will have an answer :)

best wishes

Dave

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:09 pm
by steveastrouk
Thanks Dave,
I'll ring Chris on Monday.

Steve

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:21 pm
by steveastrouk
The answer seems to be that the stick MUST be <<1Gigabyte - the machine freaks out with anything bigger. Problem these days is FINDING sticks <<1 Gig !

Steve

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 11:25 pm
by Spooky
Steve,

Tesco!! 1 gig sticks £2.99 :)

best wishes

Dave

Re: USB stick file rules.

Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:34 pm
by steveastrouk
Not sure what Si used, like I said, I have a feeling it was a lot less than 1 gig.
Will try a Tesco one tonight though....
Steve