shark cnc-mach3

[router101]

Gooday.
Trying to get mach3 to work with shark cnc.
I already have built a hobby cnc parallel machine that is working nicely.
I understand parallel port patching.
I am using a separate xp computer just for the nc pod/shark setup.
I have loaded ncpod driver and plugin formach 3.

They talk sort of.
It looks like x is y, y is x and z down is z up.  Im told 1600 steps per rev accel of 15. Any other setup details?
I cant seem to find a simple patch panel to swap step and direction that works with the pod.
I dont have a detailed table of step and direction and other patches for the ncpod/shark.
Does anyone have a set of screen dumps of setting up mach3 shark combo?

Any good threads on this?

Thanks Peter

[router101]

loaded ncpod driver latest from oemtech
loads ok and talks to shark cnc from mach3

loaded update nc pod firmware (2031)
ran updater.
Error code ncPOD not found.
How do I update the firmware?

Thanks Peter.

[router101]

I have a cnc shark which uses a NC pod.

I want to use it with mach3 and also basic control panel.

I run two different classes that use different software.

I see there is a usb driver for mach 3 called ncpod usb driver

I see there is a firmware installer (v2031) for mach 3.

Is it a matter of changing drivers to suit mach3 and basic control panel?

Or are there two firmware installers that are mutually exclusive?

Can I swap between firmware versions easily? If so how?

If I have two different pcs one with mach3 and drivers and the other with basic control ad drivers will that work?

Thanks Peter.

[Greolt]

Peter

It seems that there is two different ncPod firmwares.  The firmware that comes loaded with the CNCshark and the v2031 (Mach version) from the OEMtech site.

The v2031 has a dedicated firmware loader.  I am not sure how you would restore the CNCshark firmware as I see no loader for it.

I emailed OEMtech with this question a couple of weeks ago,

There is a firmware installer for the Mach compatible firmware.

Is there a similar installer to reapply the "NCpod Basic Control Panel" firmware?

I received no reply.

Greg

[wyzarddoc]

I have just installed the "new" Shark control panel with the touch probe. Works in the Shark control panel. I cannot talk to Mach3 with the Shark driver in place. Will try to reinstall Mach3 drivers and see if that let's me talk to the Shark. I had the Shark working with the shark drivers up till the new control panel install and allowing it to install usb drivers.
will post more later
Doc

[wyzarddoc]

With the Shark Pro updated firmware to version 61 and the updated shark control panel to version 10 (last digits of the revision numbers) Mach 3 no longer communicates with the Shark/NcPod controller.
hope someone writes a updated mach3 driver otherwise mach3 is useless.
Doc

[Greolt]

As far as I understand it is either one or the other. 

Mach3 or the Shark Control panel.  They use different NCpod firmware.

For me it would be a no brainer. 

I could not imagine trying to run a CNC router with a control as limited as the Shark one.

But then I am familiar with Mach.  Been using it for some years.  You may have a different viewpoint. 

Greg