Messages

201

Mach3 under Vista / Re: USB to PARALLEL WIN 7

« on: January 11, 2019, 11:53:38 AM »

No.
But you can use a USB or ethernet motion controller instead of the parallel port.

202

General Mach Discussion / Re: royaumedeole VFD plug in with Windows 10?

« on: January 11, 2019, 07:14:18 AM »

No, you shouldn't have to do anything special.

203

Screen designer tips and tutorials / Customization Wiki

« on: January 09, 2019, 06:21:05 PM »

Using the Internet Wayback Machine, I captured most of the relevant pages for screen design from the Wiki and uploaded them to my website.
If you're looking for Button, DRO, and LED numbers, you can find them in this zip file.

http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/downloads/mach3/Mach3_Wiki.zip

204

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to site - Mach3 homing support needed

« on: January 06, 2019, 05:19:30 PM »

I don't have an answer for you, as the motors should reverse when the switch is activated.

205

FAQs / Re: pc crashes in windows 10

« on: January 06, 2019, 04:47:27 PM »

The parallel port driver will not work in Windows 10. You either need to use a 32bit version of Windows 7, or buy an external controller like a UC100 or ESS.

206

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to site - Mach3 homing support needed

« on: January 06, 2019, 02:58:03 PM »

If you look at the diagnostic page, are the LED's showing the switches activated when you push them manually?

In General Config, try setting the Debounce to 5000, and see if it makes any difference.

207

General Mach Discussion / Re: New Mach 3 Won't load G code

« on: January 06, 2019, 12:57:12 PM »

Are there any error messages?

208

FAQs / Re: Usb/parallel

« on: January 06, 2019, 12:56:32 PM »

Is the UC 100 just some kind of parallel to usb convertor?

No, the UC100 is a USB controller with a parallel port interface.

209

General Mach Discussion / Re: New to site - Mach3 homing support needed

« on: January 06, 2019, 09:27:03 AM »

That's how Mach3 works. It hits the switch, and then reverses and backs off. When the switch opens, the axis is zeroed.

If your machine is driving past the switches, then you may have a noise issue.

210

General Mach Discussion / Re: PCI Parallel port not communicating with Mach 3 in Windows 10

« on: January 06, 2019, 07:00:07 AM »

I have a Geckodrive G540 and I have just finished my control box. It looks like I will have to redo it if I use UC300ETH-5LPT combination but not if I use UC100. I've seen that UC300EHT-5LPT gives you more inputs and outputs plus analog inputs and outputs and you can connected it direct to a PC or via a router or switch. For only $44 extra its worth the money. What I cannot find is if it works only with its own network or you can connected to your home network so you can control it from any PC.

You should be able to plug the G540 directly into a UC300ETH with a ribbon cable. (Port 2 or port 3 on the UC300ETH.)

I believe that you can run the UC300ETH on a network, but it's more complicated, and you need to know what you are doing. I recommend running it direct, with it's own network connection. I use a $15 PCI network card to connect it.

And I agree that it's well worth the extra money over the UC100, as it gives you a lot more options for more features.

Since the UC300ETH will work with both Mach3 and Mach4, as well as UCCNC from CNC Drive, I'd recommend trying all 3 to see which you like best (and which works best for you).