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

The UC100 will work just fine.
Make sure you purchase a genuine UC100 and not one of the Chinese copies.

Tweakie.

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?

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.

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

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.

I ordered the UC100. Backordered for week unfortunately.
But in the mean time I was digging around in my box of CNC stuff and discovered a USB Smooth Stepper V1.2 that I purchased back in 2008 - wow time flies.
 I had intended to use with Mach4 but I remember back then there were several issues with the card, the drivers and Mach4 development problems that went on forever. So I just put it aside and kept using Mach3 and the PP.
Did they ever get the issues worked out for the USB Smooth Stepper?
 The manufacturers web site (Warp9) seems to indicate that it is a viable product but has been superseded by the Lan connected version (rather than USB).
Does anyone have any idea if I can make this smooth stepper work. Apparently there can still be issues with the card itself being flakey or something. And it's unsure whether Mach3 or Mach4 issues were worked out.
 The UC100 seems to be a better option and I'll go with it when I get it, but I'm just wondering if the Smooth Stepper is a dead end and should be discarded. A shame since it's brand new in the box.