OMAX / MAXIEM Intelli-MAX^® Premium and Standard Software System Requirements

Contents of this page

• Warnings
• Ideal system for running Intelli-MAX
• Minimum requirements for running Intelli-MAX
• Notes for those using touch
• Notes for those with high DPI displays
• Alternate operating systems
• Configuring a computer to run as a machine tool
  

Warnings

Warning:

For replacing the computer on a machine tool (not the office PC), OMAX strongly recommends buying a pre-configured replacement computer directly from OMAX/MAXIEM Waterjets.  This is the only configuration that Technical Support will support.   OMAX is not equipped to support computers purchased elsewhere.  The Intelli-MAX software has specific hardware and configuration requirements that the computer must meet in order to be compatible for running an actual machine.  (This statement does not apply to off-line / office PC support)

Warning:

With the exception of a few special cases, the premium version of the OMAX Intelli-MAX software will not operate a non-OMAX machine tool, including most MAXIEM waterjet machines.  For MAXIEM machines one must run Intelli-MAX Standard, unless a premium upgrade has been purchased.

Warning:

It is generally recommended to run on the latest version of Windows operating systems using 64 bit unless there are extenuating circumstances that force otherwise.   Periodically, OMAX will discontinue software development for older operating systems in order to not be boxed in by their limitations. 

Important:

Future software upgrades may require the purchase of additional hardware upgrades in order to allow running of the software.  For example, in the past when the Windows based controller was released to replace DOS, the software was free to OMAX customers, but it required the purchase of a new Windows based computer and some additional electrical components in order to install the free software upgrade.   As support for older versions of Windows diminishes or is dropped, it will likely become necessary to upgrade select hardware components, at your cost, in order to continue to use software updates in the future.  Also, some hardware (for example the Precision Optical Locator) may not be compatible with all operating systems, and may require component replacement when computers or operating systems are upgraded.

Important:

This document is current as of the time it was last reviewed, which by the time you read this may be some time ago.  Always check for updates at omax.com/support, to ensure you are working with the latest information.

Ideal System

• Windows 10
• If running on an off-line / office PC, and in most cases for machine tools, 64 bit is recommended.
  
• See additional information below if running on an actual machine tool, as 32 bit is required in some cases on older machines (though recommended in most cases for newer machines).
  

• Fast processor
  More speed (Higher GHz number) is needed for large "artistic" or nested part paths, and is especially helpful to speed up tool path calculations when using the Tilt-A-Jet or A-Jet accessories.  For a given processor, higher GHz numbers translate directly into faster calculations.
  
• "Gamer" or "CAD" level Video card with 3D Open GL^®** and 2D graphics acceleration.  (Typically this means NVIDIA or AMD video cards, though offerings from others such as Intel may be fine.  See ** note below.)
  
• It is recommended to run at high resolution on a large size monitor. Having a large monitor running at high resolution allows greater productivity by:
  • Letting one easily see mistakes in drawings or tool paths - one mistake caught can sometimes pay for the monitor that one should have bought.
  • Reducing the need to use scroll bars, or "zooming" as often - speeding up programming and other work.
    
  • Allowing one to view on-line documentation (help screens) side-by-side with the application.
  • The Intelli-MAX Software is designed to take advantage of large monitors by automatically sizing many windows to available work area, for further increases in productivity.
    
• Memory: 3 GB or more for 32 bit systems 8GB or more for 64 bit systems.
  More memory is needed for large "artistic," or nested part paths, and is useful when using Make to preview tool paths.  Tool paths are stored in memory, and long, complex tool paths will take a lot of memory. The Intelli-TRACE^tm, Intelli-NEST^tm, and Intelli-ETCH^tm features also require more memory than normal. Having extra memory lets the computer run faster because it doesn't have to use the hard drive to substitute for RAM. For artistic work, huge nested tool paths, or other memory intensive tasks, consider additional memory, and use 64 bit when possible.
• If running on an actual OMAX or MAXIEM Machine tool, then there are additional requirements:
• Required for machine tool operation:
  
• CPU: 4 core or higher with high GHz numbers, and large cache levels.  Multi-core processors improve reliability by preventing external applications from hogging the CPU, and also add a small measure of speed by allowing tasks to be distributed across cores.
  
• Power Supply: Momentary contact for on/off switching not allowed.  BIOS and related hardware must support overriding of the power button capability, so that computer can be powered on/off from an external power strip.
  
• Multiple USB ports supporting USB 2.0 and/or 3.0
• Operating System:
  
• If installing on an OMAX 5-axis (OMAX only) USB system:
  
• A 32 bit operating system is required, unless the 9-axis card and adapter hardware is purchased from OMAX to enable 64 bit support.  See 64 Bit Windows Setup below.)
• Memory should be 4GB of RAM
  
• If installing on an OMAX 9-axis (OMAX and MAXIEM) USB system:
  
• Operating system can be 64 bit or 32 bit (64 bit is recommended)
• If 64 bit is chosen, then 8GB or more RAM is recommended to take advantage of it.
  
• Network Card: At least one 10/100/1000 network card is required
  
• Desktop case must physically fit in the controller / machine.
• Important: The computer must be configured per OMAX or MAXIEM specification, to disable and enable specific Windows features.  This ensures that conflicting settings do not interfere with the operation of the machine while it is being used.  By purchasing a computer through OMAX, one can avoid the setup headache below, ensure maximum compatibility, and get official support.   Should you care to ignore this advice, see the "Configuring" section below for a checklist of items that must or should be changed.
• Recommended:
  
• Solid state drives with "power-loss data protection" recommended for maximum performance.  Intel brand Solid State drives are recommended for maximum reliability (Intel drives, though significantly more expensive, typically have the extra "power-loss data protection" circuitry to handle power failures such as Emergency Stops with significantly less risk of "bricking" the hard drive or corrupting data.)
• Important: When purchasing a computer from OMAX, it is guaranteed to work with your OMAX or MAXIEM machine, but it may be different than the specifications mentioned here for testing, cost, and supply stability reasons.  The actual machine shipped will typically fall somewhere between the minimum specification (below) and this ideal system outlined here.  Check with Technical Support for details on what is actually shipped at any given moment.

** 3D OpenGL hardware acceleration is only required to use the 3D Path Editor, JetSimulator, OMAX Intelli-CAM, and future 3D utilities.  It may also be a requirement for LAYOUT and Make in future software updates.  OpenGL is a registered Trademark of SGI.  Please note that Intelli-CAM (an OMAX-only product for 3D file conversion and pathing) has significantly higher system requirements, especially for the video card, than the Intelli-MAX software.

Minimum Requirements

This is not what we recommend, but here are the absolute Minimum Requirements to run the Intelli-MAX Windows Software on an off-line PC (But not ideal, and not on a machine tool.):

• Windows Vista or higher  (Click here for notes on alternate operating systems.)
• Note: Windows XP support ended with version 21.0 patch #4 of the Intelli-MAX software. 
  
• Note: Windows 2000 support ended with version 19.0 of the Intelli-MAX software. 
  
• See warnings at the top of this document for additional considerations.
  
• 512 Mb or more RAM
• Color display (Set to anything more than 256 colors, and running at a resolution of 1024x720 or higher)
• 3D Open GL accelerated video card (if running the OMAX 3D Path Editor or JetSimulator utilities)
• 5GB of free disk space.
• A valid C: drive must be present.  OMAX software typically will not run if Windows is installed on any other drive (a very unusual configuration).
• Keyboard and mouse are required.  Although touch and other inputs can sometimes be used for supplemental input in many cases, both a keyboard and mouse are required for many operations.
• Please see the ideal system recommendation above, for a more appropriate system configuration..
  

Notes on using Touch

Notes on using high DPI displays

Notes on specific and alternate operating systems
(Older Windows, DOS, Mac, Linux, 64 bit, etc.)

64 bit Windows

For Office / Off-line PC's:

The Intelli-MAX software has been tested to run under both 32 and 64 bit versions of Vista, 7, 8, and 10.  It will run on offline PC's fine on any of these operating systems. 

For actual machine tools:

64 bit is supported for all 9-axis USB card equipped machine tools.  This includes all machines under the MAXIEM brand, and most (newer) machines under the OMAX Brand.

Important:

5-axis customers: For those older OMAX Machines that have the "5 axis USB box", it is necessary to upgrade to the 9 axis USB card, along with an additional adapter that adapts the signals from this new card into the older 5 axis style.  Please check with OMAX Technical Support for the latest information on this (techsupport@omax.com).

OMAX DOS customers: For those with the very old DOS based OMAX Machines, upgrades are also available, though that will require computer and additional hardware purchases.

OMAX Precision Optical Locator customers, please note that the older USB cameras are not 64 bit compatible.  As such, you will need to replace your camera with a newer one that is 64 bit compatible.  OMAX has these available for you, but it is a cost to consider.

Windows 10

This software has been tested and verified to work on Windows 10.  64 bit is recommended, as OMAX intends to stop developing software for 32 bit versions of Windows sometime in 2018.

Windows 8 / 8.1

The Intelli-MAX Software runs fine under Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 - though OMAX intends to stop developing software updates for it sometime in 2018.

Windows 7

The Intelli-MAX Software runs fine under Windows 7 - though OMAX intends to stop developing software updates for it sometime in 2018.

Windows Vista

The Intelli-MAX Software runs fine under Windows Vista - though OMAX intends to stop developing software updates for it sometime in 2018.

Windows XP

Support for Windows XP ended with version 21.0 patch #4.  Older versions of the Intelli-MAX software can be found at omax.com/support.  If one needs to run software newer than 21.0 on a Windows XP equipped machine, it is first necessary to either upgrade the operating system or replace the PC with something newer.

Windows 2000

Support for Windows 2000 ended with version 19.  Older versions of the Intelli-MAX software can be found at omax.com/support.  If one needs to run software newer than 19.0 on a Windows 2000 equipped machine, it is first necessary to either upgrade the operating system or replace the PC with something newer.

Windows 95 / 98 / ME / NT

These operating system require Version 9.0 of Intelli-MAX, or older.  Older OMAX software can be downloaded from http://www.omax.com/support.   Note: There is no MAXIEM solution for Windows NT and older.

DOS

DOS OMAX software is available, and can be downloaded from http://www.omax.com/support.  It is significantly less capable than the Windows version, and is recommended only for legacy purposes.  There is no MAXIEM solution for DOS, though tool paths created with this older software will run fine on MAXIEM machines.

Existing DOS customers are encouraged to take advantage of upgrading to Windows by replacing the computer, and a bit of additional minor hardware.  Complete kits are available from OMAX.

Macintosh

The Intelli-MAX software can be run on many Mac based computers using the Apple product Boot Camp or other similar utilities.  Below are some notes on these options.

Note: What follows was written considering OS X Yosemite Version 10.10.3 in May of 2015.  The information here may not be completely accurate for other versions, though for the most part it should be.   Do your own research before committing to a solution for your particular needs.

Important: The information here is intended for offline running of the OMAX software.  Do not attempt to use a Mac to run a machine tool.  This is not a supported configuration.

The Intelli-MAX software product is designed to run on Windows, and not designed to run on a Mac.  In order to run on a Mac, therefore, it is necessary to install Windows onto the Mac.  There are several strategies on which one can do this: 

• Solution 1 (not recommended) – Use a Virtual Machine:  The advantage of this is that one can run OS X and Windows simultaneously, and even in some cases share files and the clipboard between the operating systems.  The disadvantage of this is that the Windows portion will run significantly slower with less resources available to it.  In fact, when running 3D or other graphically intense applications, the Windows portion can be so severely limited that it is not useful.   The Virtual Machine solution, therefore, is not recommended, though it may have its place in some scenarios.  (OMAX has not officially tested this configuration.)
  
  
• Solution 2 (not generally recommended, though has its place) – Use a remote PC: In this scenario one has a PC located somewhere with Internet access, which one can then “remote” into using remote desktop software.  This solution uses the full power of the PC, so calculations are fast, but the user interactions are subject to the ping and data rates of the Internet connection.  This will cause the user interface to seem slow and “sticky” as a function of the internet connection available to both computers.   Even under a very fast and low ping connection, using “Zoom Window” instead of “Zoom Cursor” in the OMAX software will be required in order to zoom without severe annoyance.   Remote desktop options can still be useful, for example, to access your computer and OMAX software from a cell phone, or to log in and do a time study from your Mac, but is fairly limiting for real world productivity.
  
  
• Warning: Do not operate a physical waterjet machine using remote PC software.  The reliability of the user interface and internet connection, as well as the stability of the remote software and the rest of the system may cause unwanted machine motions, inability to stop the machine when needed, and other such problems.  For this reason, not only is using remote desktop software not recommended in general, it is not recommended at all for operating the machine.  Do not do this.
  
  
• Solution 3 (recommended) – Boot Camp: Use the Apple product “Boot Camp” to allow the Mac to dual boot into either Windows, or OS X.  This works because modern Mac computers have switched over to running Intel based PC hardware.  (This solution does not work for older macs running PowerPC based hardware).
  
  The advantage of running Boot Camp is that it allows Windows to run natively on the PC hardware the Mac was built with, just like any other PC it might be running on.  This means that, just like any other PC, it directly compatible with the hardware and has full access to the system memory, processor, and the rest of the system.
  
  The disadvantage of Boot Camp is that it is necessary to re-boot the PC in order to switch between OS X and Windows.  One can run one or the other, but not both at once.
  
  Installing Boot Camp can take several hours of waiting for stuff to download and copy.  Follow the instructions provided on the Apple Support web site (support.apple.com).  Be aware that the instructions, although clear and easy to follow, may be insufficient and you may need to ask Apple for assistance, or attempt several times.  Also be aware that there is some risk of losing your valuable data, so be sure to backup first. Once Windows is installed and updated, Install the OMAX software, and enjoy.

If Mac support is important to you, please let us know because your feedback helps us set future development priorities.  Email softwareengineering@omax.com with your requests.

Linux

The Intelli-MAX has been tested running the OMAX software using Wine under Linux (in particular under the Ubuntu distribution.) Here are some notes on the tests:

• OMAX LAYOUT and MAKE appear to run fine, though at significantly reduced performance, and with some display issues.  The most serious display issue is that some windows that should appear in front of the main application disappear behind it.  Re-sizing the main application and moving it to the side, can reveal these hidden windows.
  
• The OMAX Calculator appears to work well. 
  
• Other utilities are untested.
  
• OMAX MAKE cannot be used to output to motors in Linux. 
  
• OMAX does not recommend running the OMAX software under Linux.

If Linux support is important to you, please let us know.  Email softwareengineering@omax.com with your requests.

Android / iOS / Windows Phone / SteamOS / Amiga / Other

None of these are presently supported.  If such support is important to you, please let us know.  Email softwareengineering@omax.com with your requests.

Configuring a computer to run as a machine tool

• These instructions are for those who don't care to purchase a pre-configured replacement computer through OMAX.  These instructions are intended for skilled computer professionals who understand computer configurations such as registry editing, BIOS setup, device driver installation, and similar.  Please note that OMAX does not support OMAX or MAXIEM computer controller setups not purchased through OMAX, and strongly recommends against such configurations.  Should one choose to go this route, it is done at one's own risk:
  
• Reminders before starting:
  
• The computer must meet the system requirements outlined previously in this document.
  
• One should properly backup all settings prior to purchasing a computer, so that such settings can be transferred to the new computer.  The machine tool setup itself can be transferred using the "Transfer / Backup Setting" menu on the "Setup" menu in MAKE.  This will copy machine critical setup files to a removable drive so that you can later use this same menu item to transfer them back into MAKE on the new computer.  Note, however, that this wizard only transfers the minimum setup files needed, and does not backup everything.
  
• OMAX does not support machine tool computers that were not purchased through OMAX.  OMAX does extensive testing when choosing new computers to ship with machines to specifically avoid issues one may run into, should one buy a computer on one's own.  The only reason to buy a computer on one's own would be to get a more capable computer at a lower cost, but the risk of it not working / not being properly configured is a real risk to consider.
• Required changes:
• Set up the BIOS so that the computer will power on through AC Recovery. (So that user does not need to hit power button on PC to turn on the PC, but rather the main control power will power it on.)  This is typically done through the BIOS setup of the machine.
• Make sure all USB ports and hubs have the latest device drivers:  This is done through the Windows Device Manager (Not Windows Update).  This step, while perhaps optional, is important because OMAX has observed USB communication errors caused by out of date USB drivers, and has noticed that computer vendors typically don't bother to ship with the latest drivers.
  
• Install the Intelli-MAX Software: Choose the version that is appropriate for the machine (generally "Premium" for OMAX and "Standard" for MAXIEM).
  
• Transfer important machine settings: Either import the settings files for the OMAX/MAXIEM machine or configure MAKE with the appropriate settings for the machine.  It is strongly recommended to backup these settings on the old machine so they can be transferred to the new.  The "Backup / Transfer Settings" option in MAKE can be used for this purpose.
  
• For Tilt-A-Jet and A-Jet compatibility (Only required if for if a tilting head is equipped):
  
• If a Tilt-A-Jet/A-Jet Calibration Tool Kit is available, be sure that the driver for the USB/COM Port box is installed.  It will be necessary to obtain the driver through Windows Update, which requires an Internet connection.
• For Precision Optical Locator compatibility (Only required for Precision Optical Locator support):
  
• Install the appropriate camera driver which can be found at www.omax.com/support.
• If the computer has built-in audio, disable the front panel audio jack detection.  This step is necessary in order for certain camera models that came with the Precision Optical Locator to work properly. Consult the documentation that was included with the purchased computer for more details on how to do this. Otherwise, an audio plug can be plugged into the front-panel audio jack and that should allow the camera to work properly.
• MICROMAX Machines - Swap the X and Y axes:
  
• If the machine in question is a MICROMAX machine, be sure to edit MAKEPreferences.ini using a text editor so that the property of "SwapXandYMotorMotions" is "1", since the MICROMAX machine has swapped axes. Do this step only when MAKE is closed, be sure to save the change to the file and close the file before opening MAKE again.
• Optional (but strongly recommended) changes:
  
• Run Windows update to obtain all Windows Updates that are available.
• Configure for the local language: If it is necessary to have the Intelli-MAX Software in a language other than English, obtain the respective language pack.  Once the language pack is downloaded, go into the Windows Control Panel, click on "Change date, time, or number formats", click on the "Administrative" tab, click on "Change system locale..." under the "Language for non-Unicode programs", and select the desired language.