Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => FAQs => Topic started by: Philosofy on April 27, 2017, 11:29:38 AM

Title: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on April 27, 2017, 11:29:38 AM
I'm jumping in to CNC as a hobby.  I've settled on Fusion 360 for my CAD/CAM, and bought an entry level 4 axis CNC from China.

I chose Fusion 360 because I'm a Mac guy, and I can design parts when I'm traveling for work.

The computer I have for the CNC is running Windows 10 Pro, with an Intel Core i5-4460, 2.90 GHZ.  It has 4 gigs of RAM, and a 444 gig hard drive.  It has no WiFi.  What makes it complicated is that my workshop has no internet.  To download Mach 3, I will have to drag the computer in the house, and hard wire it to my router.  Then, the computer will go back in the workshop to run my CNC.  My questions are:
1.  Will Mach 3 work on this computer
2.  Will I have problems if the computer isn't hooked to the internet?
3.  Will Mach 3 work with Fusion 360 (I'm assuming yes on this one.)

I don't want to spend the money and the hassle of installing Mach 3 if it won't work for me.

Thanks

Phil
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: ger21 on April 27, 2017, 12:28:12 PM
Quote
1.  Will Mach 3 work on this computer

Not with the parallel port, but it will if you buy an external motion controller.

2) No, you don't need the internet
3) Yes.

Can't you download Mach3 on your mac, put it on a flash drive, and then install it on your other PC. It's not 1990. There are easier ways of copying files than moving the PC between buildings.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on April 27, 2017, 12:53:07 PM
The controller came with the CNC and is USB.  I wasn't sure if I could download to my Mac or not: lots of times they detect the OS you're downloading on.  I want to make sure I get the right version for my OS.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: ger21 on April 27, 2017, 01:40:19 PM
Never used a mac, so I can't answer that. But since there's only one version, I would think that it would work.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Stuart on April 30, 2017, 07:44:34 AM
Works fine when dl with a Mac that what I do as the windoze -can is not and never will be on the www

Just make sure yo format your flash drive on the PC or it you do it on the Mac do it as a FAT32

Use the same flash drive to get the tap/no files from the Mac to the Mach3/4 PC.

I to use fusion360 the pp in the post web page for m4 is not complete for 4 axis search the post processor section for how to edit it then store it in username/autodesk/posts and select personal posts in f360

Take care and have fun air cutting to prove the post
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on May 01, 2017, 05:02:37 PM
An additional question:
I finally got my computer up on a WiFi network, and was about to download Mach3, when I noticed that it says not to use 64 bit operating systems.  My computer is 64 bit.  Also,  I don't have a serial port, but the CNC I bought is USB compatible.  Is Mach3 still the program for me?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: ger21 on May 01, 2017, 05:47:34 PM
If you are using Mach3 with a USB motion controller, it will work fine with a 64 bit OS.
And since you are using the USB controller, you don't need a parallel port.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on June 21, 2017, 03:10:52 PM
Life has delayed my project, but last night i was finally able  to hook everything up, but it didn't work.  I think the problem is that Mach 3 doesn't see my computer over the USB port.  I used a sample G-Code for a simple circle, and the software was doing its thing, but no movement from the CNC.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: ger21 on June 21, 2017, 03:31:33 PM
You're USB device needs a Mach3 plugin that should have been installed.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on June 21, 2017, 04:05:14 PM
How do I check for that?  My other disadvantage is that I'm a Mac guy, and not familiar with Windows.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on June 23, 2017, 03:42:47 PM
Where do I find the USB plugin?  I've looked in the Mach3 folder, and don't see it listed at all.  Can it be called something different?  Do I need to buy some kind of card for my computer?

Here is the CNC I bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400W-4axis-3040-CNC-Router-engraver-engraving-milling-machine-Mill-Drill-Machine/162356323409?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Thank you.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: ger21 on June 23, 2017, 08:56:20 PM
It should have come with the machine, on the same CD as the pirated copy of Mach3 they give you.
You need to ask the people you bought it from.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on June 28, 2017, 04:33:13 PM
I don't want to pirate Mach3.  Can anyone point me in the direction of a solution?  I accept that I got a lemon, but I got the steppers, lead screws, table, etc for a decent price, even if the controller doesn't work.  My confusion is that the serial port connection even supplies the power to the spindle.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: joeaverage on July 08, 2017, 05:11:33 PM
Hi,
the solution is ditch the Chinese electronics and buy decent stuff from a company that supports their products.
Buy a licence for either Mach3 or Mach4 direct from Artsoft.

Craig
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on July 08, 2017, 11:34:26 PM

Gee, thanks.  I'll just junk the $600 I spent on hardware.   Not gonna happen.  I'm trying to do the right thing.  I don't want to pirate software.  Why doesn't Mach3 support USB?  Do you know what a pain in the ass it is to find a computer with a serial port these days?  I'll probably just get the pirated version but pay for a Mach3 license.  My hardware will work and I'll sleep just fine at night.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: joeaverage on July 09, 2017, 02:31:53 AM
Hi,
you've spent $600 on hardware but are not prepared to follow through and make all that gear work?

Firstly Mach is a Windows program that requires a MOTION CONTROLLER to operate connected machinery. Traditionally
Mach used a parallel port as its motion controller. In more recent times external motion controllers have become available
variously connected including USB. If you can get the Chinese motion controller to work good luck to you. You may have noted
that hundreds if not thousands of posts on this forum are about Chinese made controllers that people can't get to work.

If you want to get your router to work using quality electronics that are well supported by their manufacturers consider
the UC100 by CNCdrive or PMDX-411 by PMDX and couple that to a Gecko 540 and never look back.

http://www.cncdrive.com/ (http://www.cncdrive.com/)
https://www.pmdx.com/ (https://www.pmdx.com/)
http://www.geckodrive.com/ (http://www.geckodrive.com/)

Craig
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: joeaverage on July 09, 2017, 04:22:03 AM
Hi,
should've made it plain the UC100 or PMDX-411 are USB devices, they get their power from the PC when you plug into a USB port. Inside the device
is either a DSP or FPGA chip which takes Mach machine code output from USB and produces highly accurate pulse streams for steppers or servos which
exit the device on a DB25 connector, aka a parallel port.

They are WAY WAY to clever to be called a 'USB to Parallel Converter', they are genuine external motion controllers, but may be thought of as
a converter. As such you could plug it in to the parallel port on the control box you got with your router.

The Gecko 540 I recommended combines a breakout board and multi stepper driver in one. You probably don't really need it but Gecko have a superb
reputation for reliability and they back them up. Most Chinese controllers use a common and cheap Toshiba IC for stepper drivers and they blow up all
the time.

There you have it... the cheapest way to get your machine to go is about $100 for either of the motion controllers, another $300 for a 540 if you want
better drivers plus of course a licence for Mach. There you have a choice, Mach3 is well established and has lots of features and tricks built in for $175.
All development work has ceased on Mach3, it will still be around for years yet but it is or will be overtaken by Mach4. Mach4 is all new, its modular,
designed and engineered in modern fashion. It is still developing but for mills and routers it ready to go. Mach4 is $200. Given that is all new you CANT
upgrade from Mach3...you have to buy new. If you want the latest and greatest go straight to Mach4. Both the UC100 and PMDX-411 have Mach4
plugins available.

You can also of course get a PC with a parallel port. I bought a mini-ITX board base on a dual core Atom CPU a couple of years ago, it had a parallel port
built in and I added another with a PCI card and used Mach3 with two ports for a couple of years. It can be done and cheaply.
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/ (http://www.mini-itx.com/store/)

I have more recently changed to Mach4 and an external motion controller, an ESS by Warp9 but on the same little miniITX board.

Craig

Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Philosofy on July 10, 2017, 04:23:58 PM
Thank you Joe!  I'll research these.  I have always planned for this machine to be my entry model.  Once I get up and running, and understand the intricacies, I'll build my own, and will convert this unit to a laser.
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: joeaverage on July 10, 2017, 07:44:54 PM
Hi,
kool, glad to help. A good external controller is a REAL step in the right direction. I have used parallel ports
and they work but are quirky and sometimes just a PITA!
Aside from anything else an external controller doesn't care whether its XP,7,8,10 32 or 64 bit.

Craig
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: gr8fulamerican on August 06, 2017, 05:35:19 PM
I have my CNC Mill hooked up to a controller I built using a C10 board etc., it is connected to a PC running a clean install of XP with no internet connection in my garage. Can I run Mach3 under Windows 10 inside the house without the parallel port driver, generate the g-code, and then transfer the g-code with a USB thumb drive? Would this be similar to an external motion controller? Thanks for any help you can give me.
Scott
Title: Re: Should (Can) I buy Mach 3
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on August 07, 2017, 02:44:11 AM
Yes you can run Mach3 under Windows10 (without installing the parallel port drivers).
Mach3 does not actually generate Gcode it just runs it.
CAM or CAD/CAM software is used to generate Gcode.
Yes you could transfer Gcode from one computer to another using a thumb drive.
No, it would be absolutely nothing like an external motion controller. :)

Hope this helps.

Tweakie.