Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: studysession on November 21, 2010, 05:08:17 PM
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Hi -
I have been a long time user of Mach 3 and now need to replace the computer I have been using for many years. I had a break in and all my computers were stolen.
I go to best buy and couple of other places and find that most of the computers these days do not have parallel ports on them and only offer USB. Has anyone gotten Mach 3 to work with USB? What do I need to do to get it working with USB?
Can I use a USB top parallel converter?
Thanks -
Keith
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The USP to Parallel Port adapters are no use as they have no control over the timing that Mach requires.
You could either get a PCI parallel port card or use something like the SmoothStepper which is an external motion controller that connects to Mach via USB.
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Thanks for the quick reply. Never heard of smooth stepper before, are many people using it?
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Yes, I have been using them for approx 3yrs and I would guess there are thousands using them. Some things dont work in the SS yet such as Backlash comp and THC but Greg is working on things at the moment and although its taking time he is getting close.
Do some reading up on them, there is a SmoothStepper section to the forum which has info.
Hood
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Thanks!
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I was looking at the website and can't find any pricing info -
http://www.warp9td.com/
Do you know the approximate cost?????
Thanks
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$150 as far as I know.
Hood
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http://www.warp9td.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=6&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=33
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Thanks!
Because they are small and cheaply priced. Could I run this with Mach 3 on a netbook?
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I use Via Pico mobos in my mills and lathe so dont see a prob with a netebook. http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11693
Hood
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Nice! Other than the exchange from dollar to pound - that looks like it would be very nice and small for what I would want.
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I would imagine you could get them in the USA and probably cheaper at that. I also have one down at the side of the TV and its in an Artigo case, the whole thing is smaller than a CD/DVD player that slots into your computer case :)
Hood
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Very cool! Thanks!!!
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Heres a couple of pics, first is the Artigo with a CD sitting on top to show the size and the other is the Pico in my Beaver Mills cabinet.
Hood
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WOW! It's smaller than the DVD itself.
You have the PC, SmoothStepper and a stepper motor driver or is the SmoothStepper the driver?
And it's all ran with Mach3?
Sorry for all the questions - just trying to make sure I fully understand.
Thanks
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You need the computer with Mach, the SmoothStepper and then stepper or servo drives. I prefer also to have breakout board, you will see that just below the SS in the second pic.
Hood
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Actually the board just below the SS is a line driver I made up to convert the Step/Dir signals to differential for my servo drives. The Breakout board is the one below that.
There are quite a few places selling breakout boards that the SS actually fits into, PMDX and CNC4PC do them I think.
Hood
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UPDATE:
I just sent an email to the person on the smooth stepper site -
http://www.warp9td.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Hope to hear from them soon. I am going to order a netbook and the smooth stepper.
Thanks for the help!!!
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Hey Hood,
The line drivers, did you use 2 quads ?
Thanks,
Rc
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I built my own PC and when I discovered that there was no parallel port on the mother board I was at a loss. I solved the problem by using PCI parallel port plug ins. I am driving both Sherline and a Gecko 540 with PCI Parallel ports I got from CNC4PC. Watch out because the Gecko has problems with some of the cheaper ports.
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Hey Hood,
The line drivers, did you use 2 quads ?
Thanks,
Rc
Thats correct Rc