Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: tomnafaire1 on July 18, 2014, 02:41:32 PM
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Hello, I just purchased a 3-Axis CNC machine with Mach 3 (64 bit) control drivers on it. We downloaded the "trial version' of Mach 3 and can not get the CNC Machine to respond to the PC.
Is this because we are using the "TRIAL VERSION" of Mach 3? Or is there something else that could be causing this disconnect?
ANY GUIDANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Thanks
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If you could give some details of the controller you are using it would help. Reason I say that is 64bit operating systems wont work with the parallel port so you will definitely have to have an external controller.
It could simply be you need to choose the correct plugin to get things working but without knowing what you have it would just be a stab in the dark to suggest anything.
Hood
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We have the Mach 3 Control system with the wireless hand-held controller
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The wireless hand-held controller is an XHC (Model HBO4), if that helps any.
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can you provide a link to the machine you have please.
Hood
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It is a Roctech CNC model RC1313S (servo-driven).
http://www.roc-tech.com/
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Could the problem be simply that we are using the "Trial Version" of Mach 3? Or would that version still allow us to move the machine (jog it, etc.)?
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There doesnt seem to be much info on that site as to the actual controller or any documentation, so its kind of hard to advise.
It is not that you are using the demo as that will work within its few limitation (500 lines of code, no RFH etc)
Did the machine not come with Mach3 loaded?
Hood
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This unit has a separate CONTROL Cabinet that is connected by cables to the CNC machine itself. Inside the CONTROL CABINET, are the MACH 3 controller drivers (hardware). They provided software for the XHC wireless hand-held controller, but they did not provide MACH 3 control software.
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Is the machine meant to run with Mach?
Hood
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Yes, we ordered the machine with specifications for a MACH 3 control System
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Then surely they should have supplied it working with Mach3?
Do you have any links to documentation on the hardware they use?
Hood
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This is the control card unit we have that supports the wireless hand-held controller
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Not sure whether you meant to attach documentation or a pic or not but dont see anything.
How does the control box connect to the computer? Is it via the printer port or USB or Ethernet or?
Hood
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The cable has a USB where it connects to the computer and a smaller "printer port" male end where it connects to the control box
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Well if it connects via USB then that would require a plugin. Did they supply a plugin for use with Mach?
Hood
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Yes, and we followed all of the steps in the manual that came with the XHC Mach3 Motion control wireless hand held controller. You could set the dials for x, y, Z, feed rates, etc, and the numbers would change on the Mach3 screen (syncronized with the movements of the hand held controler). But the machine doesn't move.
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Please attach the plugin and the xml , probably best to zip them before attaching.
Hood
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OK, I was just told that it is important not to hook up the CNC mill before you install Mach. So, I was told to "uninstall" Mach, disconnect the CNC mill, then Install Mach, then reboot, then reconnect the CNC mill, then when you start Mach, ideally the STATUS BAR should say "Driver initiallized". And everything should work.
So we tried this methodology. Still NOTHING. The wireless hand-held controller communicates fine with the MACH control screen, but the CNC is still not moving.
Does this provide any further insight?
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I did a bit of searching when you mentioned the XHC controller and found the name of the plugin, it is NCusbPod.dll
Do you have that in the plugins folder?
Hood
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The set-up guide that came with with hand-held (and the disc) call it "shuttlepro.dll
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A PC with Windows 7 and 64-bit is still compatible with the current Mach 3 software correct? The PDF on the Mach3 site that I just downloaded says you need Windows 2000, XP or 32-bit Vista. Surely Mach 3 is compatible with a more updated computer OS.
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I am not sure if that will be it, shuttlepro is normally, when used with Mach, referring to a hand held controller.
Your actual control card, the XHC card will need a plugin as well.
Try this, go to Func Configs menu then select the Reset Device Select option. Next close Mach and restart it, you should then see a list appear asking you to select your motion control device. If you do not see something like NCusbPod then you do not have the plugin installed. If there is a ShuttlePro in the list then choose that but as said normally shuttlepro is not a motion control plugin.
Hood
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You need a 32bit OS if intending to use Mach via the parallel port, reason being the pulsing engine (parallel port driver) will only work with a 32bit OS.
If using an external controller (you are) then you can use a 64bit OS no problem.
Hood
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Hello Hood,
I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to assist me with my problem getting Mach 3 set up to properly communicate with our new CNC Router.
You were right, the "shuttlepro"file was for our wireless hand-held controller. We also found the "NcusbPod" file in the plugin and selected it but we are still DEAD (CNC machine not responding).
Here's the latest update.
When we didn't select the "NcusbPod" file, the hand held controller would communicate with the Mach 3 control screen (move the dials, X,Y,Z, feed rates, etc. on the hand-held and the numbers change on the Mach 3 screen). HOWEVER, if we select the "NCusbPod" as the motion control device, (it shows up in the driver window adjacent tothe RED RESET button) but the RED RESET ESTOP button blinks, and the hand-held ceases to communicate with the Mach 3 screen. If we click the blinking RED RESET button, the "NCusbPod" drops out of the Driver window immediately, leaving it empty on the Mach 3 control screen.
Either way (with our without the NcusbPod selected, the CNC Machine is not responding to Mach 3). ANY OTHER GUIDANCE?? We are so frustrated!
Thanks again!
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Please attach your xml, it will be the easiest and quickest way for me to see how things are set up on your computer and may make finding the issue easier.
Hood
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Did you get your machine running?
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Yes, we are up and running, Had to replace the control board though.
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You replace with xhc or did you upgrade?
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Replaced xhc board with pmdx-126/pmdx-127 and ethernet smoothstepper
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We hired an electrical engineer to make the swap out. He did a great job. We are still experiencing some gremlins, but hope to work them all out in time.