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Mach4 General Discussion / Re: Was just given an Ethernet Smooth Stepper
« on: May 05, 2018, 10:59:09 PM »
Hi,
as far as I know the Ethernet SmoothStepper is highly regarded for use with both Mach3 and Mach4.
I myself have an ESS and have been using it with Mach4 for about 18 months. It should be noted that some of the controller enacted features that we have
become accustomed to as the norm in Mach3 are not universally available in Mach4 yet, Lathe threading is an example. Lathe threading has been a regular part of
the features offered by the ESS Mach3 plugin for some years. It is still not ready in the Mach4 plugin, but is being worked on currently.
Accordingly you need to decide exactly what features you require, lathe threading is one example, THC support is another. If either are required then the ESS Mach4 plugin is not ready
however both are fine in the ESS Mach3 plugin.
A three axis router is well within the capacity of an ESS either Mach3 or Mach4.
If you have not used Mach4 before you may find that you are required to do a little Lua coding to have it perform the way you wish and some find that requirement a definite minus.
I have found the flexibility and power of the software tools within Mach4 to be very very much better than Mach3. Not everyone agrees with me but I have my evidenced opinion
and that's it.
Of course if you don't like Mach4 you can always wind back to Mach3.
Craig
as far as I know the Ethernet SmoothStepper is highly regarded for use with both Mach3 and Mach4.
I myself have an ESS and have been using it with Mach4 for about 18 months. It should be noted that some of the controller enacted features that we have
become accustomed to as the norm in Mach3 are not universally available in Mach4 yet, Lathe threading is an example. Lathe threading has been a regular part of
the features offered by the ESS Mach3 plugin for some years. It is still not ready in the Mach4 plugin, but is being worked on currently.
Accordingly you need to decide exactly what features you require, lathe threading is one example, THC support is another. If either are required then the ESS Mach4 plugin is not ready
however both are fine in the ESS Mach3 plugin.
A three axis router is well within the capacity of an ESS either Mach3 or Mach4.
If you have not used Mach4 before you may find that you are required to do a little Lua coding to have it perform the way you wish and some find that requirement a definite minus.
I have found the flexibility and power of the software tools within Mach4 to be very very much better than Mach3. Not everyone agrees with me but I have my evidenced opinion
and that's it.
Of course if you don't like Mach4 you can always wind back to Mach3.
Craig