Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: skipper on October 01, 2015, 12:57:30 PM
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Hi all,
I am in the process of converting my 9x20 lathe to CNC. Is it possible to use one computer and to run both machines? Is the a way to have a dual configuration of Mach3 to run them both? On the lathe I am planning on using different
Ball screw ratios than the mill so all that would have to be reconfigured
Every time I switch machine.
You guys that run two machines how do you do it? Can I share one motor driver control
For both?
Lots of questions but I am sure some of you run multiple machines.
Thanks
Skipper
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Oh, I forgot mentioned I am currently running a bench top mill with mach3.
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Hi Skipper,
Setting a different Profile within Mach3 for each machine takes care of the various settings differences etc. It is then just a matter of swapping the Parallel Port / USB or Ethernet cable from the PC depending on which machine is to be used.
There are those who use the same motor drive controller but, in my case, I prefer separate controllers for each machine (saves swapping too many cables).
Tweakie.
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regarding the swapping of cables, although the situation is not exactly the same, i have a lathe and a mill that share rs232 communication with the same
computer, i ran the computer output into a cheap but industrial grade A-B switch, turn the switch to A, the mill is connected, to B and the lathe is connected.
maybe this is a possible solution.
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Guys thanks for the response, I guess I never looked to close to see that there are different profiles available. I will give that a shot and the industrial A-B switch too.