I tried searching, but can't find the answers to my question in previous threads.

Ive been using Mach3 for years, and have been considering getting a Mach 4 license. I prefer the look of the Mach 4 gui, it seems a better fit for my mill and Warp 9 seems yo put more effort into the Mach 4 plugin.

I downloaded Mach 4 to try in demo mode, but absolutely nothing works.

The software installed fine, and starts fine, but all i can do is browse the various screens.

It doesng seem to recognize my smoothsteppers existence, i cant access the ess plugin, it won't run g-code.  Basically, all i can do is see what the gui looks like.

Am i doing something wrong? Im definitely not paying $200 for the license until im certain it will run on my machines integral pc motherboard and cnc hardware.

You may have to enable the ESS plugin first (Configure->Control, then the plugins tab), then restart Mach.  Then you will be able to configure the ESS plugin at that point (Configure->Plugins).  Once the ESS is up and running, you need to select the ESS as the motion device (Configure->Select Motion Dev), then the plugins tab), then restart Mach. 

These same things (similar) had to be done with Mach 3, but it may have been so long since you did it you forgot!    All of the Documentation is in the Docs folder below the installation folder.  "Mach4 CNC Controller config.pdf" is the one most pertinent to this subject.  But reading through the rest of them as well will give you a leg up understanding the differences between Mach 3 and Mach 4. 

Steve

Great, thank you Steve.

Ill try your suggestions in the morning.

Hello Ken,

If you haven't already, check out this Getting Started Guide by Warp9: https://warp9td.com/index.php/gettingstarted/setting-up-the-smoothstepper-and-mach4

Happy CNCing,
Bryanna

Thank you Bryanna,

That is an excellent guide, very easy to follow.