Messages

71

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: May 06, 2023, 05:29:05 AM »

Hi
I purchased a Boss 4x8 cnc, distributed by Lone Star Cutting Solutions.
It's all most 10 years old runs on Mach3.
I wanting to replace the computer.
Just started looking most I see are running
64 bit windows.
Any suggestions
Thanks
Jim

Jim, if you are using the parallel port I would suggest that you upgrade the PC to a WIN10 or 11 machine, a "mini" type has plenty of power, and get a new motion controller with either an Ethernet or USB connection.  No modern PCs use the parallel port any more.  I moved from an old Dell XP machine to an almost new Dell mini and replaced the parallel port connection with a UC100 from CNCDrive. https://cncdrive.com/  This just connects to a USB port on the PC and is all contained in a DB25 plug housing that goes straight into the breakout board "parallel port" socket.  I installed Mach 3 on the computer, copied across the xml config file and license file from the old PC, and it just worked.  I am very happy with the UC100 for my purposes, many here would recommend an Ethernet connected motion controller.   

72

Finished Plugins for Download / Re: mach3 control on c++

« on: May 02, 2023, 04:07:07 AM »

If that's just a parallel port breakout board you just have to feed it pulses and logic levels at the right time and you don't need anything from Mach3.

73

General Mach Discussion / Re: DIY stepper-servo

« on: April 28, 2023, 02:18:03 PM »

Thanks Graham - noy encouraging!  I think I'll pass...

74

General Mach Discussion / DIY stepper-servo

« on: April 28, 2023, 01:53:31 AM »

I've recently seen a new type of stepper driver board that has a solid-state rotary encoder chip fitted.  The boards fit on the back of a stepper which has to have a shaft extension, on to which is fitted a small magnet.  These encoder chips (from Broadcom for example) can have extraordinary resolution and accuracy at low price.  See for example here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BIGTREETECH-Closed-Driver-Control-Board/dp/B08Q3QGQ6Q

The result is a stepper-servo drive in effect, though you have to do your own "system integration".

Does anyone have experience with these please?

75

General Mach Discussion / Re: Opening g-Code Locks Mach3

« on: April 20, 2023, 03:51:18 AM »

Great, you fixed it.

76

General Mach Discussion / Re: need advice for updating my machine

« on: April 20, 2023, 02:13:16 AM »

What plc is it connected to?

77

General Mach Discussion / Re: Opening g-Code Locks Mach3

« on: April 20, 2023, 02:05:45 AM »

Please could you post your g code as a text file not a jpeg?  However I think your problem is that the the way your machine is referenced the offending line will try to move the cutter beyond a soft limit.

78

General Mach Discussion / Re: (Mach3) Can't figure out issue with G31 Command (Probing)

« on: April 12, 2023, 12:33:05 PM »

Er. which part?

79

General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 Turn Radius Mode not working Properly

« on: April 09, 2023, 11:32:25 AM »

Did you close & restart Mach after selecting radius mode?

80

Mach3 under Vista / Re: Asking for very basic guidance.

« on: April 07, 2023, 05:38:32 PM »

I could just tell you but then you'll have another question, and another, and another...

Silly me, I thought that the purpose of forums is to share knowledge... thanx for correcting me.

I'm very happy to help people who help themselves and you will see I have done that quite a lot on this forum, but that doesn't extend to providing tutorials on the basics that can be found out from the manual.