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Author Topic: Mach3 / Win10 and UC100  (Read 421 times)

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Offline Sage

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Mach3 / Win10 and UC100
« on: March 27, 2026, 06:10:26 PM »
I've been working along fine for years with my old WinXP machine and Mach3 using the parallel port but it's finally time to retire the machine.
I know Mach3 runs fine on Win10 (64 bit) because I've used it for years just as code proving ground - no parallel port driver installed. Just to watch the code run looking for obvious issues.
My question is: Is is the UC100 usb to parallel controller / adapter a viable way to get Mach3 up and running on my Win10 machine? Opinions / pros / cons / pitfalls or other suggestions.
I don't want to change my stepper motor drivers and control box (Gecko and PMDX) etc. I want a solution where I can just plug my parallel cable into my computer just like it is.
Thanks for suggestions

Offline Tweakie.CNC

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Re: Mach3 / Win10 and UC100
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2026, 01:43:37 AM »
The UC100 will work just fine.
Make sure you purchase a genuine UC100 and not one of the Chinese copies.

Tweakie.
PEACE

Offline Sage

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Re: Mach3 / Win10 and UC100
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2026, 06:33:28 AM »
Thanks
It's a jungle out there. Do you have a recommended link?

I have a followup. I have a license for Mach4 as well and apparently I paid for and have the parallel port driver for it. I ran it but didn't care much for it so I stuck with Mach3. Would Mach4 happen to run on a Win10 machine that has a parallel port installed?

Offline Tweakie.CNC

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Re: Mach3 / Win10 and UC100
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2026, 11:32:21 AM »
You can order the UC100 direct from CncDrive or one of their agents;  https://www.cncdrive.com/distributors.html

The UC100 will work with Mach3 or Mach4 just download the appropriate plugin from the CncDrive website.

Mach4 with the Parallel Port plugin can only be used with 32-Bit versions of Windows 7 or Windows XP.


Tweakie.
PEACE

Offline Sage

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Re: Mach3 / Win10 and UC100
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2026, 07:27:10 PM »
Thanks Tweakie.
I used to be right up on all this stuff but lost track of the details while happily machining along for the last 10 years.
I ordered a UC100 from their website. It appears they don't complete orders on the weekend?? All I got back was an email saying they would notify me. I guess tomorrow (Monday) will tell.
Thanks

Offline Tweakie.CNC

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Re: Mach3 / Win10 and UC100
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2026, 01:19:38 AM »
I am sure the UC100 will enable you to have another 10 years of trouble free machining.

Just for reference, the instruction video for installing the UC100 USB drivers with Win10 / Win11 is here;  http://www.szentkereszty.net/uc100/

Tweakie.
PEACE