Installing SuperCam Program

SuperCam demo version consists of one self uncompressing file, the name of the file is SCDEMO.EXE. Torch-Made demos consist of the filename TMDEMO.EXE.

Release versions of SuperCam are shipped on meda or emailed as a file with the serial number of the release as the filename.

Installing SuperCam requires it reside in it's own sub-directory named "SuperCam". This sub-directory must reside off the root directory of the C: drive.

To create the directory using windows 95/98 call up the Explore program.
One method of calling the Explore Program is to right click on the Start button found on the bottom right of the screen.
Another method is to call it from the Programs directory of your computer.
When the Explore program has been loaded. Click on the File menu item at the top right of the the Explore window.
Click on the (C:) drive at the top of the list on the left of the Explore window. Then Click on the New menu item.
Then click on the Folder menu item displayed.
This creates a new Sub-Directory named New Folder.
The New Folder must be renamed to SuperCam. This is done by right clicking on the New Folder icon and selecting Rename menu item and over typing the original folder name,
When the new folder has been created named SuperCam, click on it to show the contents of it. It should be blank.
Bring up another Explore window. This will put two Explore windows on the screen. Adjust their individual sizes so that both can be viewed. Make the one on the left select the contents of the 3 1/2 Floppy (A:).
Right click on the file name in the left window, drag to the files area of the SuperCam sub director in the right Explore window.
Click on the Copy Here menu item. This will cause the selected file on the left to be copied to the area specified on the right, the SuperCam sub directory.
This is the dialog window that will be displayed during the operation of coping the file from the diskette in the A: drive to the SuperCam sub directory on the C: hard drive.
Once the SuperCam release file has been copied to the hard drive. Double click on the file.
This is the screen that is displayed after the SuperCam release file has been executed. The files contained in the self expanding compressed file are copied to the directory that is hosting the release file, for proper operation of SuperCam upon initial installation. It normally takes about 5 seconds for the files to uncompress. When completed close the window by clicking on the 'X' at the top right of the screen.
To create a short cut on a Windows 95/98 desktop, find the Supercam.exe file in the SuperCam sub directory.
Right click on the SuperCam.exe file then drag it to a part of the visible desktop and drop by lifting the mouse key. Then select the Create Shortcut Here menu item.
A shortcut will appear on the Windows 95/98 desktop area. To run SuperCam, double click on the shortcut.

This is the initial screen of a SuperCam Release Version 3.3D, Serial #994409

To switch between the SuperCam screen and the Windows Desktop, use the ALT-ESC key sequence. To return to the SuperCam Screen from the Windows Desktop, click on the SuperCam button on the task bar.

SuperCam runs a XYZ table optimally from MS-DOS system that does not have Windows 95/98 running in background. To use a system that has Windows loaded as a machine controller it is recommended that the Windows program be shut down and restarted in MS-DOS mode.

When a table is controlled while Windows is running in background, the movements of the XYZ mechanism may be jerky and unreliable at the higher rates of travel. Generally tables will well up to half of the maximum speeds with Windows running in background. Other programs loaded in the Windows environment will greatly effect the performance of the attached mechanism, in particular concern is FastFind and anti-virus programs.

SuperCam is a real time machine control program the timing of step pulses for the motors is being controlled with a time resolution of less than 100 microseconds.

Windows is a multi tasking general business system, it is not concerned with millisecond to millisecond timing concerns. Therefore it has no concerns should it take a time out and for a tenth of a second to sort a directory, but this will cause an attached mechanism stop dead while Windows does it's task. This is why it is best to run in a pure DOS mode.