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« on: August 15, 2016, 07:18:31 AM »
We are nearing completion of our first CNC router and now need to decide between MACH4 and MACH3. I know neither, but know people with experience of MACH3 who say that MACH4 does not do macros well.
We have the CS labs CSMIO/IP-S motion controller and two servo motors on the X axis – will MACH4 support a master/slave configuration like this satisfactorily?
The router (designed and built by friends) is designed to be flexible with a variety of different configurations:
• 3 axis main table
• 3 axis low table for extra height
• 3 axis vertical table for cutting tenons in the ends of rails
• 3 axis horizontal spindle on main table
• 4th axis - horizontal on main table
• 4th axis - horizontal on low table (normal, permanent position)
• 4th axis vertical for big "wood turning"
• 2nd spindle small spindle brought into play on a pneumatic ram instead of tool changer
I am assuming that we can create the different configurations in MACH4 and use macros to flip axis orientations, change soft limits, home position etc.
My big question is are we better going for MACH4 or MACH3 and will MACH4 do all we need?
The secondary question is can we use existing MACH3 macros in MACH4 and save rewriting them? Or can they be translated somehow?
I hope for replies from several people with positive experiences of MACH4 saying that it will do what we need and do it well, together with some indications of where we might start with these things?
Many thanks
Nick, Acorn Furniture, Wales