Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: MachineMan66 on April 15, 2019, 06:13:03 PM

Title: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: MachineMan66 on April 15, 2019, 06:13:03 PM
So finally got a paralell port card to work in Win 10, It shows up in ports on device manager, but cant find the port address that goes in Mach, also when I run driver test it says "No Driver Sensed" . Where can I get the driver? I tried rerunning the install, but it doesnt show what it is installing.

Thx for any help
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: joeaverage on April 15, 2019, 06:25:56 PM
Hi,
Mach's parallel port is more than just the parallel port (DB25) but a software driver that lives in the kernel of the PC.
Windows 10 prevents the driver from being installed.....you cannot use Machs parallel port on Windows 10.

Craig
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: MachineMan66 on April 15, 2019, 07:01:31 PM
Even though it shows up in the device manager? is there any work around. I really need this machine to work. or is there a laser program that will drive the paralell port in Win 10. I cant go back to 7.
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: joeaverage on April 15, 2019, 07:15:45 PM
Hi,
the parallel port shows up in the device list and if you had a parallel printer I'm sure it would work.
Machs parallel port is much more than just the physical port itself. There is no workaround that allows
Mach's parallel port driver to work on ANY 64 bit OS or ANY Windows 8 or later OS.

You can use Mach on Winodws10, including 64 bit and even with laptops (the parallel port never played well on laptops)
with an external motion controller like an Ethernet SmoothStepper (approx. $180) or a UC300 (approx. $150). Note that
both of these boards need a breakout board (or boards) as well, cheap breakout boards can be had for about $20.

There are cheaper Chinese external controllers.....but be warned they often don't work at all and don't support a lot
of Machs functionality. If you do any reading on the forum you find lots of posts from people who can't get their
cheap-s*********t Chinese controller to work. Avoid like the plague.

Craig
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: MachineMan66 on April 15, 2019, 07:38:45 PM
Yes I have read the posts about cheap chineese stuff, Thats why I got a Probotix PBX-RF controller, It has been working fine until we upgraded to 10. I will keep looking, I really need this machine, I have a lot invested in it and dont want to get rid of it just cause it wont play with 10.
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: joeaverage on April 15, 2019, 07:54:48 PM
Hi,
but you don't have to get rid of it, if you install an ESS (Ethernet SmoothStepper) between your Windows10 PC
and your existing parallel input control box it will work better than it ever has done before.

Craig
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: MachineMan66 on April 15, 2019, 09:41:45 PM
how does that go in between? it lloks like it has a ribbon cable port. is there a adapter cable that goes to the port on my controller? And wow, $190 just to have a go between. Nickle and dime us to death.
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: joeaverage on April 15, 2019, 09:55:13 PM
Hi,
yes there is a cable adapter that goes in between.

If you want to spend less try a UC100 or a 57CNCdb25 for about $120. Don't be tricked into buying a Chinese knock-off
UC100, buy direct from CNCDrive or their nominated distributor.

You want cheaper than that buy Chinese junk and good luck to you.

If you dont want to spend anything go back to Widows 7 32 bit or XP.

Craig
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: joeaverage on April 15, 2019, 10:15:35 PM
Hi,

Quote
I really need this machine, I have a lot invested in it and dont want to get rid of it just cause it wont play with 10.

You asked the question....I gave you an answer. If you have an alternative I sure the hundreds or thousands of people
who've faced the same question will be all ears.

Craig
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: MachineMan66 on April 15, 2019, 10:54:47 PM
Already tried the UC 100, I got from a friend, Im thinking I might go to a dual boot, so that when I want to run this machine, just reboot back to 7, then reboot for other machine. I dont want to buy another computer, I got 5 now.
Title: Re: Mach Driver and Port Address
Post by: joeaverage on April 15, 2019, 11:09:54 PM
Hi,
so what about the UC100, did it work? It should work on a Windows 10 PC just as well as Windows 7.

The only reason I don't like the UC100, or its direct competitor  the 57CNCdb25 is that it has only 'one ports'
worth of IO. That is to say 12 outputs and 5 inputs.

An ESS has 51 inputs and outputs (three ports), the 57CNC has 57 inputs and outputs including several analogue signals
(an impressive and clever feature) and the UC300 has 85 inputs and outputs (five ports) including two analogue signals.
So for an extra $30 to $60 you get a whole bunch more.

Another thing that the ESS has going for it is that the maximum pulse rate is 4MHz. Compare that to 100-125kHz for the
UC*** series and 57CNC and its variants. Machs parallel port kernel speed is 25Hz by default. A few people run Machs
parallel port as fast as 100kHz but 45kHz or less is the norm. The upshot is that the ESS can handily accommodate high
resolution steppers, servo and encoders for which the other brands will struggle.

Craig