I have and use a licensed Version of Mach3, along with licensed Wizards
Q1:-  can this be transferred to Mach4 or do I need to buy a new licence ?
Q2:-  I have now unearthed my Boxford TCL160 Lathe, having now retired and moved to Scotland.  :-) Hooray!
Q3:-  Will Mach4 have 'Machturn' option as does Mach3 or will I have to stay with Mach3 for Lathe operations. ?
Q4:-  Are any tutorials available for the general use of Mach Turn ?
I'm using ESS Smoothstepper with a CM106 breakout board , Mach3 + Plugin and SCU have been run and seem to be Ok but a bit quirky so more questions to come


Regards to all.

George

Hi,
can't answer all your questions but some.

Mach4 is a new and completely different program and requires it own licence, ie no upgrade from Mach3
Mach4 has a lathe screen set and instructions, I'm not familiar with Machturn but certainly Mach4 can be used for
turning.
Welcome aboard. The Forum both Mach3 and Mach4 sections are a real highlight of Mach, enjoy.

Craig

Q4:-  Are any tutorials available for the general use of Mach Turn ?

Go to the new Artsoft site
http://www.machsupport.com/software/mach3/

Under Help & Learning you will see Videos & Tutorial click on it.
When the next screen appears click on the Artsoft Video Tutorials.
From the next appearing screen, on the left side list, click on
Introduction to Turn.

It's not a video, but suggest you read / study the Using Mach3Turn Manual.

If your installing Mach3 Turn suggest you install version 062 and not 066.

You may also want to see what's available on You Tube.

RICH

Q3:-  Will Mach4 have 'Machturn' option as does Mach3 or will I have to stay with Mach3 for Lathe operations. ?

- Mach4 Turn is Fanuc style gcode and supposedly follows Smid Books on CNC.
- Have a look at the lathe code for Mach 4 as it is different and   has other additional codes , etc  offered as compared to Mach3.
- Art Soft site provides a comparison of different versions.
- Some lathe features require a different version of MAch4.
- Mach4 uses a different programing language and any Macros, screen sets,
  from Mach3 don't transfer over to Mach4.

I have not followed Mach 4 for a some time now. So not a very good resource for the current status of Mach 4 Lathe nor supporting hardware.

Update to Mach 4 or use MAch3 is a decision only you can make.

Mach 3 lathe can certainly do a lot as is and you may want use it to
get familar with using the cnc lathe especialy if it currently works.

Mach3 lathe screen leaves something to be desired  ( my personal opinion ) there are a few options for using other screen sets. Personally my custom screen set is used and works as i want it to and provides many nice features.

just some comments on the question,

RICH

Quote

Q4:-  Are any tutorials available for the general use of Mach Turn ?

Go to the new Artsoft site
http://www.machsupport.com/software/mach3/

Under Help & Learning you will see Videos & Tutorial click on it.
When the next screen appears click on the Artsoft Video Tutorials.
From the next appearing screen, on the left side list, click on
Introduction to Turn.

It's not a video, but suggest you read / study the Using Mach3Turn Manual.

If your installing Mach3 Turn suggest you install version 062 and not 066.

You may also want to see what's available on You Tube.

RICH

Thanks Rich. 062 loaded and up and running on the test bench. ESS now configured and working.
I now need to know which two pins on my CM106 BOB will output 0-5VDc to my VFD. Then I need to find the correct Ports & Pins config.

George

Quote

Q3:-  Will Mach4 have 'Machturn' option as does Mach3 or will I have to stay with Mach3 for Lathe operations. ?

- Mach4 Turn is Fanuc style gcode and supposedly follows Smid Books on CNC.
- Have a look at the lathe code for Mach 4 as it is different and   has other additional codes , etc  offered as compared to Mach3.
- Art Soft site provides a comparison of different versions.
- Some lathe features require a different version of MAch4.
- Mach4 uses a different programing language and any Macros, screen sets,
  from Mach3 don't transfer over to Mach4.

I have not followed Mach 4 for a some time now. So not a very good resource for the current status of Mach 4 Lathe nor supporting hardware.

Update to Mach 4 or use MAch3 is a decision only you can make.

Mach 3 lathe can certainly do a lot as is and you may want use it to
get familar with using the cnc lathe especialy if it currently works.

Mach3 lathe screen leaves something to be desired  ( my personal opinion ) there are a few options for using other screen sets. Personally my custom screen set is used and works as i want it to and provides many nice features.

just some comments on the question,

RICH

Thanks Rich,
I'll stick with Mach3 Turn.
I just need to get all my ports and pins set for Spindle control.

Appreciate your comments.

George