Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: olddude on January 01, 2022, 04:02:09 PM
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Everything was ok until I carried my control computer up to the house so I could download some training videos. I don't have internet in my shop. I had problems with getting the computer to pick up my wireless adapter. I went to the DLink support site and found the drivers and downloaded them and it still would not work. I then hard wired the computer to the cable router by eithernet cable and that worked. AS soon as I got a connection the computer started to go through the update thing. It downloaded about 6 security fixes and a couple more that I don't know what they are. I have a feeling these updates may be the problem because Mach 3 always worked before this happened. What it does is when I click on the Mach 3 icon a box pops up asking if I want Mach 3 to make changes to this computer when I click the yes box another box pops up asking if I want plasma or CNC plasma I click CNC plasma and the mach 3 logo pops up for a second or two then the machine reboots.
What have I done to my poor system?
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I think I found my problem. Somehow automatic updates got turned back on and once I finally got it connected it installed all these latest security updates and one or two of them crashed the system when Mach 3 was loaded. I won't really know for sure if everything is ok until I can get it back into the shop and hooked back up to the table control box but at least I can load Mach 3 now without it shutting the computer down.
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So, the moral of your story:
Do not take working machine controller out of the workshop and don't connect it to thr internet.
Local network is OK (for transfering files - GCode, from home to garage) :)
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So, the moral of your story:
Do not take working machine controller out of the workshop and don't connect it to thr internet.
Local network is OK (for transfering files - GCode, from home to garage) :)
After many hours of searching I finally caught on to the no hookie to the internet. :)
Sadly I don't know if it really works or not. I bought this table almost 2 years ago and never got a chance to use it. The person I bought it from kept the plasma cutter and it was many months before I could scrape up the money for a new Hypertherm P85, then it took 8 months for the machine to come in. I was told there were a few updates for my programs that are on my computer. I never got the chance to even look for them because of the windows updates that loaded themselves and crashed my machine. I thought that automatic updates were shut off but for some reason they got turned back on.
Maybe you can tell me; my Mach 3 program is Version R3.043.006 is that up to date? I don't use it for anything but this plasma table.
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You should be using R3.043.062 version (066 is much buggier an not oblainable on machsupport site)
I use Mach 3 on Windows XP for many years, and not connected ti Inernet, just to local LAN.
Never had any problems.
For CAD/CAM I run Win7 in virtual box (my basic OS is Linux).
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Thanks ZASto.....You will have to be patient with me because I have very little experience with this whole new world of CNC. When looking over the net I see hundreds of web sites offering downloads for Mach 3. inexperienced yes but I didn't fall off the turnip truck this morning either.
What you suggest is to roll back the version I have to R3.043.062. If that is correct, then just how do I go about that? Where do I go to get this version and what are the steps needed to be sure I end up where I need to be and not worst off than I am now.
The guy that had this table used it for little less than a year then decided he didn't have the time to learn it. He had a guy that was working for him that knew enough to get the table up and running and made a few parts but quit shortly after that for greener pastures. At the time I was thinking about buying one of those Plasma Cam machines and I happened by his shop one day and the next thing I knew I went from a small 4x4 table to this big 5x10 for less than I could have bought the Plasma Cam.
My youngest son is really good with computers and one heck of a welder. It was my hopes that he would help me get this thing up and running. Well that didn't work out so I'm on my own. I have plenty of time to spend on getting this up and running but what I don't want is to cause myself any more wasted time like I have gone through this past three weeks. My goal is to get the computer working like it should be so when I take it back to the shop I can go to work.
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The only download site is this one that hosts this forum :)
https://www.machsupport.com/downloads-updates/mach3-downloads/
From your current installation, from c:\mach3 folder copy all .xml files to the USB stick, as well as all *.set files.
Then copy c:\mach3\brains folder to the stick if you have some brains used in your system.
Next, copy c:\mach3\bitmaps folder to the stick if you use some screenset different from derfault one.
And do not forget to copy c:\mach3\mach1lic.dat file to the stick, that is your license file.
Reinstall official version of Mach3 and copy back the files from the stick to the appropriate folders.
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Ok, let me be sure I have got this right.
I found 3) XML files in the Mach3 folder. They were plasma, plasmaCNC, Screen 4
3) set files, Plasma.set, 1024.set, 1024.l.set
Does that sound right to you? The rest of them I found ok.
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Looks right to me.
So you use 1024.set which is "default one", but I guess that is bit modified.
.lset is for lathe :)
Do not forget the license file! Mach1Lic.dat
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Thanks, I'll see what I can come up with tomorrow sometime and let you know how it works out.
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I have been getting all of this stuff together and am thinking about putting this on a USB stick so I can download it later. The only thing i saw that looked strange was the license file when I opened it to look at it to be sure I had done it right all that was there was a bunch of squiggly lines and dots like it's some kind of code or something. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be like that or not.
Also, I've heard that Mach 3 won't work on a win 10 64 bit system. What I am wondering if I could put it on my win 10 machine just long enough to put it on a usb stick. Or would it be better just to download it to the control computer and be done with it.
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The only download site is this one that hosts this forum :)
https://www.machsupport.com/downloads-updates/mach3-downloads/
From your current installation, from c:\mach3 folder copy all .xml files to the USB stick, as well as all *.set files.
Then copy c:\mach3\brains folder to the stick if you have some brains used in your system.
Next, copy c:\mach3\bitmaps folder to the stick if you use some screenset different from derfault one.
And do not forget to copy c:\mach3\mach1lic.dat file to the stick, that is your license file.
Reinstall official version of Mach3 and copy back the files from the stick to the appropriate folders.
Hi, I haven't been on this forum in a few years and found this post when researching some XML config file oddities produced by my 3.043.066 version from a few years ago.
ZaSto, are you saying the current Mach3 download is version 3.043.062, even though the filename ends with just 3.043?
My last Mach3 Mill downloads were 3.043.022 in March 2018 and 3.043.066 in April 2018.
That you mentioned 3.043.066 was buggy interested me as this is what I've used since 2018 and I've noticed some very weird irregularities with saved XML Config files.
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@olddude: Of course that the license file looks "funny" as it is encrypted in some way. It is not a plain text file (that is the reason it cost some $) :)
@airnocker: Even it is named 3.043 only, in fact it is 3.043.062, see attached picture. As my memory serves, 066 had more bugs that were introduced, so it was decided to ditch that version and declare 062 as the last one.
Development of Mach3 finished some, if I remember, seven years ago so our wishes for bug fixes and program enhancements would be just barking in the wind.
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Thanks, that's what I was thinking But how about the download from the win 10 computer thing or just download it to the control computer? Sorry I just don't want to end up worst than I am now.
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You can download it to the W10 computer and transfer it to your work one over UCB Stick :)
My advise is to keep work computer away from Internet.
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Thanks..........
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@ZaSto: Thanks for confirming that. I did get the .062 version by going to the Mach3 download archive and getting it there, where by the way .066 is still available.
For the record, and for future reference, I believe I downloaded and installed .066 in 2018 having noticed a new release. Although I never ran into any 2D milling issues with .066 I did find that about a half a dozen new .XML config files that I made with it were very screwy and caused initialization problems when I attempted to use any of them. Only when I used my earlier .XML config files did Mach3 load and run normally.
Maybe this was one of the bugs.
I know plan to revert back to .062 when convenient.
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Man this thing is going to drive me nuts. I downloaded the new mach3 program on to a disk but I can't seem to be able to figure out how to get it off and on to the computer. I would download it right off the download page if I could get the Mach3 site to open on that computer. I have both firefox and Google on that computer but neither will load the mach3 sites. I get a message we cannot connect to the server at www.Machsupport.com. I know it's on line because I can open comcast and get my e-mail and a couple other sites.
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Man this thing is going to drive me nuts. I downloaded the new mach3 program on to a disk but I can't seem to be able to figure out how to get it off and on to the computer. I would download it right off the download page if I could get the Mach3 site to open on that computer. I have both firefox and Google on that computer but neither will load the mach3 sites. I get a message we cannot connect to the server at www.Machsupport.com. I know it's on line because I can open comcast and get my e-mail and a couple other sites.
When you downloaded the Mach3 program it would have prompted you to choose where you want to save that file.
Use a USB thumb drive (USB memory stick) in the computer you successfully downloaded the Mach3 install program and copy that file to the memory stick.
Move the memory stick to the other computer, let it open to view the files on it. Copy and past the Mach3 install program on this 2nd computer.
Let me know if you need further assistance.
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Well that is what I thought I did. When I look at the USB stick I can see Mach 3 and all of the files. I put it into the computer and the box with a couple options popped up and I clicked the box to view files. I found the mach3 files that were on the computer then I went to C drive and found the USB stick and pulled it up. I left clicked the Mach3 folder and the box came up and I clicked copy but it didn't say anything about where I wanted to copy it to, so I clicked the 'send to' line and sent it to the Mach3 'old version' that is on the computer. A download box came up saying it was taking the files from the USB stick and sending them to the computer. I took about a minute for the files to be finish downloading and once done I clicked ok and exited the screen. I removed the USB drive and checked to see what had happened. I opened the mack3 program but it was still on the .066 version.
Before I did that I tried to drag the mach3 folder from the USB stick on to the desktop. I could see the mac3 folder on the desktop but didn't know what to do from there so I gave up until I could figure out what to do next. I'm sure it's just something dumb that I did or didn't do that's the problem I just can't figure what.
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The file that you downloaded from the Machsupport site is Mach3Version3.043.062.exe or maybe it just says Mach3Version3.043.exe. That single file is the file you want to copy to the USB drive that has Internet access. Then move the USB drive to the other computer and copy it to the 'Downloads' folder. Once this file has been copied to the downloads folder of the other computer, double-click it to "install" it on this computer. It will normally install and create the C:\Mach3 folder with files and sub-folders within. The C:\Mach3 folder contains the program file and config files to run and control the CNC machine once all the program settings are defined for your CNC controller, stepper motors and router.
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OK, right now I have the Mach3 program on my win 10 computer. There are the two Mach3 buttons on my desktop one Mach3 loader and one that says Plasma. Push either one and the program opens, I checked the version with the About tab on the top line and it does verify that it is the .062 version.
I then put it onto my 8 gig Usb stick along with the set files, XML files and the license file. I plugged it into the control computer and that is where I'm stuck.
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I think where some of my problem is that when I plug the USB stick in my control computer A different box comes up from the one that comes up on the win 10 machine. On the win 10 machine a box comes up manage usb drive k. that box has all the buttons to move to/copy to/copy/paste along with the files that are on the drive.
When I plug it into the control computer a smaller box comes up with just what is on the drive with no way to copy or paste. I can highlight the file and right click it and a box comes up with different thing to do but if I click copy it doesn't ask where or what I want to copy it to. If any of that makes sense I'll be surprised. ;)
Also the program I downloaded is the first one on the list......Mach3 ver .062
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What operating system is your control computer running? XP, Windows 7, Windows 8? Can you provide screenshots of the dialog windows you get?
First, I would focus on getting the Mach3 installation .exe file onto your control computer. I suggest creating a folder on the control computer in your My Documents folder, name the folder "Mach3-Setup" then copy/paste the Mach3 V3.043.exe file there. This .exe is only used to install Mach3 and in doing so will create the default application folder named at C:\Mach3 . Run the .exe setup file.
How about we then focus on moving the Windows 10 Mach3 license and settings files over to the control computer afterwards?
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The control computer is running Win 7 and trust me that's what I have been trying to do for the past 4 days. I've been thinking that I'll just leave the .066 version on there and forgetting about it.
Was I supposed to put the whole Mach3 folder on the disk or just the installation .exe file? I have got the mach3 folder in the download folder but when I click it all it does is open the folder up.
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"Was I supposed to put the whole Mach3 folder on the disk or just the installation .exe file?"
You just need the Mach3 installation .exe file which you downloaded from here: https://www.machsupport.com/downloads-updates/mach3-downloads/
The resulting downloaded filename will be "Mach3Version3.043.exe". Copy this to a USB memory stick.
My CNC control computer is also running Win7 (Pro) and I am also converting from 3.043.066 to 3.043.062, same as you. Let me see if I can provide you a step-by-step procedure for doing so. Give me today to do that.
In the meantime, all you need from your Win10 machine that has Internet connection is to download installation file I just mentioned to a USB memory stick. Everything else you need (the Mach3 License file and the .XML Config file for doing this "roll-back" is already on the Win7 PC.
Sound like a plan?
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Yes it does.......One question though, where do you find this Mach3 installation .exe file if it's not the first download on the page.
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Do you need a pair of glases?
It is the first squarish red button in which is written DOWNLOAD MACH3
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:) :) :) I probably need a little tune up but I can see a little. I asked that because that is what I put on my win 10 machine then put it on a usb stick and from what I see the program is on the control computer but when I click it all it does is open the mach3 folder and nothing else happens. I know it's something I'm not doing right so I'll wait for you to get back. Thanks.....
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:) :) :) I probably need a little tune up but I can see a little. I asked that because that is what I put on my win 10 machine then put it on a usb stick and from what I see the program is on the control computer but when I click it all it does is open the mach3 folder and nothing else happens. I know it's something I'm not doing right so I'll wait for you to get back. Thanks.....
Actually, there is nothing wrong with simply installing the .062 version of Mach3 and let it install over the existing .066 version already there.
That said, however, it is always an excellent idea to make a backup copy of the C:\Mach3 folder by simply navigating to the root of the C: drive, right clicking on the Mach3 folder, click "Copy", then navigate to your My Documents folder and click "Paste". Then if anything goes wrong with the "revert to .062 version installation" you have copies of the critical config files that Za Sto refers to.
You don't mention what kind of CNC machine your Win7 control PC is controlling. Is it a plasma cutting CNC?
With my fully functional Mach3 app (version 3.043.066) on my Win7 Pro PC:
1. I will make a copy of the C:\Mach3 folder and paste it in My Documents folder, then I will rename the Mach3 folder I just copied into the My Documents folder to "Mach3BU" to denote it as a BackUp copy. Once the Mach3Version3.043.exe installation has completed successfully and all is working fine I will delete this backup copy.
2. With my USB thumb drive that has the Mach3Version3.043.exe installation file saved on it
3. And my Win7 PC booted
4. I will insert the USB thumb drive into an empty USB port and use File Manager to simply copy this .exe file to my Win7's Downloads folder (just because it is a handy place)
6. Then I will use File Manager to open the Download folder (if it is not already open) and double-click on the Mach3Version3.043.exe file to launch the installation.
7. Follow the installation prompts that follow:
a. Be sure to first close all running programs if any are running
b. click "I agree to the terms of the license...etc."
c. click OK to accept C:\Mach3 as the default Mach3 application folder
d. click Next for the Default Packages (all are checked except Lazy Cam, if you use it, check it as well)
e. select the Profile for the type of CNC machine you use (Mill, Lathe, Plasma) then click Next
f. name your machine's profile name then click Next, click Next again on the Select Profile screen
g. from the Ready to Install screen click Next (or OK, I forget which)
h. Installing Parallel Port Driver, click Next (Note: If you use the Mach3 USB or Ethernet controller plugin see those instructions)
i. Installation Successful screen, click Finish
You will be returned to the Windows 7 Desktop with the new Mach3 shortcut icon with the name you specified in step f.
This concludes the installation that should change the Mach3 version from 3.043.066 to 3.043.062.
When you launch Mach3 use the shortcut icon that you always used before, it may you to accept liability for the use of Mach3, check "Please do not ask again, I will always agree", then click "I agree to the terms of this agreement" button. Mach3 will then open.
Done.
I doubled clicked my old Mach3 shortcut icons and everything worked as it should.
With Mach3 open and running, I click "HELP" > "About Mach3" and I see I'm now running 3.043.062.
Check out the operation of your machine.
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Thanks, but I have gone through all of this and I still can't get the program to start once it is on the win 7 computer. When I look at the Mach3 folder on the usb disk and right click it to bring up properties in the box where the name is all it says is Mach3. There is no mach3 ver 3.043.exe.
I don't know if I will be able to mess with this tomorrow but Sun I'll start from scratch and uninstall the mach3 that is on my win 10 computer then reinstall it then try and get that on another USB disk and see what happens.
All I'm saying is that I have copied and pasted what is on the USB disk to the win 7 computer but it will not launch the program. I've copied it to the desktop, to my documents folder and to the downloads folder with all the same results. The only thing I can figure is that I'm doing something wrong when transferring either from the mach 3 site to the win 10 computer, or from the win 10 computer to the USB drive. But most likely from the USB disk to the control computer. I've messed with this thing so much this week that I can't even think straight anymore. That's why I asked that dumb question today about where the mach3.exe file was because according to what I see in the mach3folder properties on the USB stick there is no mach3. ver 3.043 anywhere.
If That dang win 7 computer would let me get on the mach3 download site I would just download it straight from there on the the control computer and be done with it. For some reason that computer don't like the mach3 site. I can't get on the download site or the forums with firefox or google. I had that problem on my XP computer one time where it wouldn't load certain sites and I can't remember what I did to fix it.
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From what you've written, you have INSTALLED Mach 3 on your W10 computer :)
Installation file should be SAVED on your W10 computerand transferred to your W7 computer. Just that, just one file.
Then you run that file on your W7 computer to (re)install Mach3.
How to just save the download on Win10 instead of running it - I cant tell you. I have nothing newer than W7 on my computers, and for surfing, reading firums, ... I use my Linux machine.
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Well guys, after a week of clicking and pecking......and a little, more like a LOT of cussing I think I finally got this puppy whipped. I'll know for sure once I get it back to the shop and connected to the table.
I think my whole problem was when I installed the program on to the win 10 computer, if I had just copied it to my desktop and then sending it to the USB stick I would have been done a week ago. When I clicked on the file it downloaded the program on to the win 10 computer and once it did that the file was no longer an exe file but rather just Mach3 and when clicked on all it would do is open the program.
This morning at about 3 AM when my eyes were crossed and dripping with blood all of a sudden the stars lined up and I had that what if moment. I went back to the mach3 download page and downloaded the program to my desktop and copied it to the USB stick then went down to the control computer backed up the old version already on the computer, stuck the USB stick in and went over to where the stick was on the computer and opened the files on the stick. Then found the Mach3.exe file there and copied it to my desktop, removed the USB stick, then went to the new mach3 icon that was now on the desktop and clicked it and bam it downloaded and I then had the .062 version safely onto the control computer. I verified that it was fact the .062 version and in a grand total of 14 min I had done what I spent a whole week tying to do.
Thank to all you guys that took the time and patients to put up with me and thanks ZASto for bringing it to my attention that I needed to make an eye exam appointment. ;D
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Well guys, after a week of clicking and pecking......and a little, more like a LOT of cussing I think I finally got this puppy whipped. I'll know for sure once I get it back to the shop and connected to the table.
I think my whole problem was when I installed the program on to the win 10 computer, if I had just copied it to my desktop and then sending it to the USB stick I would have been done a week ago. When I clicked on the file it downloaded the program on to the win 10 computer and once it did that the file was no longer an exe file but rather just Mach3 and when clicked on all it would do is open the program.
This morning at about 3 AM when my eyes were crossed and dripping with blood all of a sudden the stars lined up and I had that what if moment. I went back to the mach3 download page and downloaded the program to my desktop and copied it to the USB stick then went down to the control computer backed up the old version already on the computer, stuck the USB stick in and went over to where the stick was on the computer and opened the files on the stick. Then found the Mach3.exe file there and copied it to my desktop, removed the USB stick, then went to the new mach3 icon that was now on the desktop and clicked it and bam it downloaded and I then had the .062 version safely onto the control computer. I verified that it was fact the .062 version and in a grand total of 14 min I had done what I spent a whole week tying to do.
Thank to all you guys that took the time and patients to put up with me and thanks ZASto for bringing it to my attention that I needed to make an eye exam appointment. ;D
dude, I recommend that you make the following change to the way your Win10 File Manager displays your files so that it displays the file extensions ( .exe and others).
With File Manager open, hopefully you are showing the command bar with "View", click View and make sure the box on the far right in the Show/Hide section is checked that says "File Name Extensions".
(http://)
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Thanks......I think I got it all sorted out now but Now I need to get all the set and XLM files copied to the program. It found the license file though.