Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: PlanoWork on June 01, 2023, 04:57:28 PM
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I have searched high and low on the forums for this answer and cannot find one.
I currently have an old Windows XP desktop computer with a parallel cable going into my MP3000 then a parallel cable going into a box that contains my gecko drive cards. Everything is working as it ought.
What I would like to do, or at least try to do, is have a computer back up. I have a windows 11 laptop that I would like to use as a dedicated CNC computer running Mach3 alone. The problem is that I only have USB ports on my laptop. I have Mach3 loaded and thought that a usb to lpt adapter cable would work, and as I have found on this forum, it will not. So what suggestion might anyone have? The CNC world is really quite amazing.
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Hi,
Machs parallel port will run on 32bit machines of Windows 7 vintage or earlier, XP for instance......it will not run on Windows 8 or 10 or 11.
Mach3, the application will run fine, but not the parallel port driver. If you wish to use Windows 11 you will need an external motion controller like an
Ethernet SmoothStepper or a UC100. By the way don't buy one of the Chinese fake UC100's, buy genuine or don't bother.
Craig
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The CNC Drive UC100 is a USB to Parallel Port controller which would do the job. http://cncdrive.com/UC100.html
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From personal experience I would recommend the UC100. Make sure you get a genuine one.
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Hi,
only a few shortcoming of the UC100.
First is has a max pulse speed of 100khz, usually enough for steppers but not really enough for high resolution servos.
The UC100 has the equivalent of one parallel port output, ie 17IO's only. OK for the most basic of machines but you need more IO for anything bigger
and better. The ESS has 51 IO's, and the UC300, the bigger brother of the UC100 from the same company has 85 IO's.
USB is more prone to electrical noise interference than Ethernet. I would not recommend the UC100 for a plasma table which are always noise prone.
Craig
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But given the OP's spec it may be perfectly suitable. As long as he only needs a single parallel port as in his current setup that's what the UC100 gives. And in my experience the config that's already set up will seamlessly transfer to the UC100 though a few small adjustments might be needed.
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Hi,
But given the OP's spec it may be perfectly suitable.
Quite agree. If however there is the possibility of future expansion and upgrades he could run into the UC100's limitations very quickly. Make no mistake I have nothing
against a genuine UC100, but it would be hopelessly outclassed on my machine. I require nine inputs for Limits and Homes for example. The servos require a pulse stream
of 416kHz to achieve full speed and my C axis requires 466kHz to achieve full speed. The UC100 would just not cut it.
Craig
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Hello All,
I decided to get a Windows 7 32 bit dell tower with a parallel port on the motherboard. It is similar to the windows xp machine I am trying to replace.
I know the address of the com and the port and PIN numbers. I used the profile from the XP machine that is running my CNC servo motors just fine. The Windows 7 machine will not move a motor. Any help would be appreciated. I will do my best to ask any questions as well.
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To the best of my knowledge the MP3000 was only compatable with Win2000 & WinXP. Vista was definately not supported so there is a good chance that Win7 is the same.
Did your CandCNC install program run sucessfully with your new Win7 computer?
Tweakie.
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Hey Tweakie,
What do you mean by CandCNC install program? I am trying to run Mach3 to run my CNC. Now I believe I am missing something.
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Hi,
OK, did the install program for the MP3000 (assuming you are still using the MP3000) run sucessfully ?
Tweakie.
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I didn't know there was an install program for the MP3000. Where do I find it?
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Back in its day the MP3000 was a popular multitask controller used with Mach3 but it was designed around WinXP so the chances of ever getting an MP3000 to work with Win7 are pretty slim (I believe the set-up disk (supplied by CandCNC) made some changes to the WinXP registry as well as adding .dll and other files to the Windows folder. It may also have made some changes to the Mach3 installation).
The MP3000 is old (like me) and I have no idea if or where a set-up disk can be obtained. You could perhaps try CNCzone to see if anyone there still uses the MP3000.
Perhaps extreme...
If you are computer savvy then the way forward may be to make an identical ‘clone’ of your old PC. If, for example, you could obtain an identical PC motherboard then cloning the HDD is easy enough then everything should work without issue. However, just cloning the HDD and fitting to a different motherboard is unlikely to work.
Hope this helps.
Tweakie.
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Thanks Tweakie. I did find a MACH3 version for mp3000 on CNCandC's website, and will try that then report back. Otherwise, I will try your suggestion and others. Thanks again!
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To the best of my knowledge the MP3000 was only compatable with Win2000 & WinXP. Vista was definately not supported so there is a good chance that Win7 is the same.
Did your CandCNC install program run sucessfully with your new Win7 computer?
Tweakie.
Hey Tweakie!
Thank you for asking this question. It got me to thinking that I may not have something loaded. It turns out that I didn't even think about the parallel port drivers for the MP3000. Anyway, I loaded them, and everything is working from the last saved xml backup. I am running Windows7 32 bit to my MP3000 Bladerunner ESP II without issue. Again, I am new to the CNC world, and it is fascinating the amount of help offered. Thank you to all.
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Excellent news, I am pleased you have it running OK.
Tweakie.
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Excellent news, I am pleased you have it running OK.
Tweakie.
I don't know if I would say OK just yet. :)
I have a router, not a spindle, and as soon as I hit my reset button in Mach3 my router comes on, instead of coming on when I hit the power button in Mach3. Now I am researching on how to repair that little mixup.
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In Mach3…
Config. / Ports & Pins / Spindle Setup – note which Output# relates to Relay Control (M3 & M4)
Config. / Ports & Pins / Output Signals – change the Active Low state for the relevant Output#
That should do it
Tweakie.