Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: DennisF on June 30, 2013, 02:00:18 PM
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Hello to all
I have been a Mach 3 user for many years now and don't come on to the forum all that much any more this has been my first in many month's, i was at first thinking that this forum had gone away but after poking around found it. So what is the story here on Mach 3-4 i also see a new web site and style are former Mach 3 owners going to given a chance to upgrade or ? ???
Rg's
Dennis
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Word is that there will be an introductory price when Mach4 is released.
Noone really knows when it will be available, but a beta is supposed to be available soon, maybe a month or two?
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Dennis,
You can get the additional info on Mach 4 from the link below:
http://www.machsupport.com/software/mach4/
RICH
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Rich
Thanks for the reply reading the info on the web site i see that mach 4 will be offered in many types would you know what the differences would be between a hobby version and a commercial version as i see mach 3 right now it is a full version.
Rg's
Dennis
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At the start there will be no difference between Hobby and Pro versions but as time goes on they will likely grow apart. The big difference at this point in time will be the price.
Hood
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will the hobby version support the parallel port?
John
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Mach4 is a hardware based programme, that means all devices are seen as external controllers and access Mach via a plugin. There will be a plugin for the Parallel Port, it is named Darwin and you can get some info regards it in the attached pdf.
So to answer your question, yes the hobby version will support the PP as long as your OS is 32bit.
Hood
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Hood
Thanks for the info, what will be the output form for mach 4 USB or? also it looks involved to set up for PP so whats the incentive to go from mach 3 to mach 4 and spend the money for it will it be like the other software pay an annual fee for a lic and more money for support.
Rg's
Dennis
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It will most likely be USB or Ethernet but could be any means such as PCI card I suppose. As long as the vendor that makes the hardware can write a plugin to communicate with Mach then it would work.
Not really too sure why you think its involved for the PP, just looks similar to me too the way you would set up with a PP now.
If Mach3 does all you need then no real advantage to upgrading I suppose.
Few things that may be better are
Mach4 should be a lot easier to fix when bugs are found as its modular.
Feedhold is reportedly instant.
Mach itself will run much faster which should make I/O respond very quickly.
Hugely expanded I/O amount capability.
Comp etc should work better.
CSS in Turn should be possible etc etc
Regards price, as far as I am aware its similar to the way Mach is now for the Hobby version, ie one off cost and if using for hobby use, ie not selling anything you make on the machine, then you can use it on as many machines as you want with the one licence.
Pro version will be similar regards the cost, ie one off payment but how the support package for pro will work I am unsure, that may be yearly if required. Pro licence is per machine so have two machines and you need two licences, but thats the same as with Mach3, so no change there.
Hood
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Hood
Funny you mention turn as that is why i origanlly purchased Mach but turn didn't work out and the turn module never really came to life well i guess it's a wait and see issue.
Rg's
Dennis
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but turn didn't work out and the turn module never really came to life
Dennis,
So what didn't work out?
RICH
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Hi All
Will Mach 3 AND Mach 4 be able to coexist on the same computor and use the same connections to one BOB and machine so that one could test the Mach 4 before license purchase.
Graham
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Hi All
Will Mach 3 AND Mach 4 be able to coexist on the same computor and use the same connections to one BOB and machine so that one could test the Mach 4 before license purchase.
Graham
Yes.
Hood
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Hi Hood
Thats all I want to know, for now, thanks.
Graham
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Hi Hood
Just read your post what didn't work Well it won't do inside turning I am talking about lazy turn not mach, although mach 3 had issue's with can cycles and other codes.
Rg's
Dennis
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Wonder if you are replying to Rich's post?
Mach Turn works fairly well as long as you dont want too many canned cycles or CSS, other than that it works fine for the most part.
Hood
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Hood
As always thanks for your help, and as far as mach and LT it is what it is nothing i can say or do to change it.
Rg's
Dennis