Machsupport Forum
Third party software and hardware support forums. => Third party software and hardware support forums. => Topic started by: Ti_CLaD on December 13, 2025, 10:02:48 PM
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Hello, this is my first post here, I've owned a used plasma CNC machine for a few years that I never got to work yet sadly... I've never posted here for help because I read that novosun is not welcomed here and I respect that, I bought it used, sadly that is the controller installed in it. Sorry my post will be long but I feel like sharing my struggles with this.
Here's my story. I bought a 3D printer brand new, love it, decided to play with a plasma CNC after so I bought a used one because new is a lot of money, but I still paid good money for it so kinda upset that I still never got it to work right. The seller said he uses his CNCs to build other CNCs from ground up, made it move before the purchase, told me I could trigger plasma by hand or with the computer, but didn't show that part because his plasma was disconnected from it. It's a 2' x 2' work table. I bought it and brought it at my home.
I downloaded the free version of mach3 because before purchasing licenses I wanted to make sure I could work it decently. After setting it in my garage, try to move it by computer, it's got 2 X-Axis stepper motors, one of them would jerk... Took the Z-Axis to swap it and it would do the same, so it was not the stepper motor. Call the guy back, now he tells me that he's not the one that wires them so he can't help me... So now I know he didn't tell me the whole truth when he sold it to me. So decided to figure stuff out myself. Took a few months on and off to do all the next steps.
Whoever wired it had put the 2 X-Axis stepper motors in parallel, I read on internet that it's not recommended. So I bought an other Driver, separated the wires at the controller to make the A-Axis the slave of the X-Axis but same result on the stepper motor. Took the loom off the wiring, found that they made unions but some of them were badly made and separated when pulled on... so I redone the wiring. Finally they are all moving fine!!! I noticed that he lied on the part that the plasma could be triggered by computer because playing with wires, I saw that there is no outputs for it. Also they had wired some limit switches but the wires didn't even reach the controller, so useless. Now I really regret buying used but too late.
So now that it's moving right, before spending more money buying what I need to control the plasma, I decided to learn how to make drawings and maybe practice by triggering the plasma by hand to start, after we'll see for the THC.
So I'm trying to upload the .DXF file in mach3, and for some reason all I get, every time, is a straight line. Can't get the file to upload correctly, try to find information on the net and can't find what I'm missing. Then life situations makes me put the machine in a corner of the garage, it's heated so no problem with humidity and all.
Roughly a year later, out of the blue, where my girlfriend works, she happened to talk to a coworker that was repairing a 3D printer machine and talking away she tells him I have a plasma table that I never got working, so he tells her he'll help me out. So he fires my flame back for it. He's coming over one night, so the day before, I setup my machine with the computer to prepare it and now nothing works... mach3 says ''device not ready''. An other problem. So instead of coming to help me find what is the problem to upload my files, not we have to figure out the machine again. We tried, I think, every thing we could find on internet. Changed the ethernet cable, turned off the firewall, tried all sort of possible IP, I even wired the limit switches in case it doesn't know the table size is confused. Nothing is making it work. Now I'm sick of the machine not being reliable and here comes my question!
I have read that the Novusun V2, that I have, is not necessarily reliable and can quit like it seems to have done, so I don't want to buy the same thing again, what brand controller can I swap it with, that could be beginner friendly and I don't have to much rewiring to do? I have read on the net that the UC300ETH or UC400ETH are good, but they don't have the same wiring connection that the Novusun, but if it's works good after I don't really mind rewiring.
So here are what I would want from the new controller: Ethernet connection, works with the same drivers and stepper motors and power supply, 4-Axis, able to control a plasma cutter (didn't yet figure out how to wire that but I imagine it's my next step after making it work and learning to make mach3 work) budget of under 500$.
Let me know what you guys suggest, I'd like to make this bad purchase finally seem like a better purchase.
If you need more infos on something to make a decision, let me know I'll give you the info if I know it.
Thank you
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You should bear in mind that Mach3 is obsolescent and no longer supported by Artsoft or the manufacturers of the various motion controllers, however, the Warp9TD Smooth Stepper is probably the best choice of motion controller as there is a wealth of information regarding connection and Mach3 setup details on the Warp9TD website. The Smooth Stepper also supports Mach4 which may be a better option for you as it is an improved product and the license cost is very little different to Mach3. Overall the cost of the SS, suitable breakout board and Mach4 license should be within your target budget.
Hope this helps.
Tweakie.