Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: semiautoarms on February 16, 2015, 02:37:31 PM

Title: Mach4 or Mach3
Post by: semiautoarms on February 16, 2015, 02:37:31 PM

Ok guys, looking for some advice but first a little background.

I have purchased my X2 mini mill, installed my CNC Fusion conversion and have a Windows 7 machine running Mach3 which can successfully "jog" the table and spindle accordingly through a PCI-E based parallel port. I have no background in CNC work but have spent a fair amount of time looking through G-Code examples and feel extremely comfortable bridging the gap between G-Code and the actual machine movements (my day job is as a Java programmer). I have not purchased Mach3 or 4 as of now. Now for my 2 basic questions...

First, should I stick with Mach3 or start out of the gate with Mach4? From reading the literature on both, I take it that to use the existing parallel port config I have, I need a legacy Mach3 license but the cost is not the issue. I would purchase both if necessary but which to start with?

The second question is, is LazyCam sufficient to import simple 2x3 inch graphics and create correlating G-Code for engraving?

Thanks
Sig

Title: Re: Mach4 or Mach3
Post by: RICH on February 16, 2015, 06:43:07 PM

I would start with Mach3.

Lazycam works with  DXF files not image files ( if that is what you mean by graphics).
There are simple programs that one can use for creating gcodes from text. May wan to look at the current Wizard MAch provides.

RICH

Title: Re: Mach4 or Mach3
Post by: semiautoarms on February 16, 2015, 08:13:22 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Seems if I do go with Mach4, I simply need to purchase the Darwin plugin for my parallel port. Since I can find no place to download Darwin, does it come with the Mach4 Hobby version?

Thanks
Sig

Title: Re: Mach4 or Mach3
Post by: ger21 on February 16, 2015, 08:17:12 PM

You can get Darwin here:
http://www.machsupport.com/software/downloads-updates/#tabs-2

Title: Re: Mach4 or Mach3
Post by: semiautoarms on February 16, 2015, 09:20:31 PM

Thanks so much. Totally overlooked that download. Sorry...

Sig