Hi there, just wondering if there is a way to use a 4th axis on a 3 axis system. My system is only setup to handle 3 axis. I would like to use a 4th axis. So is there anyway to do this. I thought that maybe I could use a single motion controller connected to a USB port. I use Mach 3 and use the parallel port to run the 3 axis'. So is it possible to run the 4th axis on the USB port at the same time I use the parallel port to run the x,y,z axis'? Or any other suggestions? Thanks.

Pat

Hi Pat,

As far as I am aware that cannot be done.

Why not just configure your existing parallel port system to use the A axis and that would then be your 4th axis ?

Tweakie.

Tweakie thanks for the reply. The reason I don't config my parallel port to use the A axis is that my controller isn't setup for a 4th axis. I was hoping to use a different controller for a 4th axis config to work with the parallel port. Thanks again for the reply.

Pat

If you add an unbuffered breakout board such as the one from Routout CNC you can use a pass-through for all the connections in current use to your existing BOB/controllers and divert the required, unused connections to an additional buffered BOB or straight to a buffered controller such as those offered by Routout CNC.
Alternatively add a second Parallel port card to the PC,
Regards,
Nick