5379
« on: August 12, 2011, 12:51:25 PM »
OK first you get the $20 dollar CNC controller lecture.
Mach3 can be a very effective low cost controller. BUT when you move away from the basic controll function of MACH3 (lpt) you now are at the mercy of the person or group that developes and supports the Plugin interface and supports the hardware. That support CAN dissapear in the blink of an eye.
There have been MANY outside controllers for mach3 that have come and gone. Mainly it became more trouble and cost than it was worth to them.
I have seen many 100s of users jump out of the pan into the fire JUST to get burned in the end when support for their special thingy got dropped. Many invested a great deal of money and time into those thingys
IF you leave the comfort AND support of the MACH3 enviroment(lpt) there may be NO ONE here that can help you IF your controller support disappears next week.
SO NOW you have been forwarned. WELCOME ABOARD.
Are there specific reasons to go to ethernet COM? Have you considered USB?
(;-) TP