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Jacks
03-02-2017, 10:21 PM
Hi Guys
Totally new to CNC we are looking for a reasonable priced desk top CNC machine for routing text etc into MDF, plastic and HDPE etc. Wanting to engrave pen boxes and ideally maybe even the pens themselves. Is anyone able to offer any advice on a suitable machine and costs etc. Ideally running on imac or ipads as we dont have a PC. We do have an old laptop stashed away running on windows xp. We started looking at the DIY ones on Amazon and noticed some for £500 mark from Germany.
Cheers Jacks

JAZZCNC
03-02-2017, 11:30 PM
The Cheap Chinese machines are waste of money and will give you more trouble than worth. They won't do what you want correctly or very well. Unfortunately I can't offer any alternative at the price level your looking.

Regards running on i-mac then you'll struggle. Best option is to buy cheap second hand PC, you'll pick one up for £50.

Jacks
04-02-2017, 11:05 AM
Cheers thanks Jazz

Bucks
04-02-2017, 11:31 AM
Hope this doesn't confuse things but I'm Mr Jacks lol

Would the laptop be ok, if we disable the power saving functions & had it plugged into the mains rather than battery power?

Price isn't set in stone Ideally looking to spend £500 to £1000, certainly not thousands though.

terry1956
04-02-2017, 02:52 PM
Hi. I know someone who uses a laptop for his cnc control so you may be ok if you turn off power save etc.but an old pc is better if you are running Xp,Windows 7 using the parallel cable. Ethernet breakout boards are outside your price band. As to which machine,big question. For fine detail you need good signals,and that means Ethernet smooth stepper boards which would give you better cutting detail on Smaller items like your pens.but Ethernet boards cost a lot more and in some cases also need a breakout board also.you will need the software motors etc. Your best bet is to look on eBay for a up and running machine with cnc etc. Two sieg sx2 cnc mini mills have been sold on eBay this past week for sub 600 pounds.

Bucks
04-02-2017, 03:47 PM
THANKS for the info John,
Did a quick google & Ebay search foer Ethernet CNC & it just came up with boards etc, so are these upgrades for a the parallel port machines? I was origional looking at this https://www.amazon.co.uk/HPcutter-Machine-Engraving-Engraver-Cutting/dp/B013JLFB7I/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1486219249&sr=8-17-spons&keywords=Cnc%2BMachine&th=1

Do you have any links to suitable/quality new machines, I realise It looks like we'll have be paying more than our origional budget (story of my life) but if these Ethernet boards etc are upgrades? I am hoping to start off with a quality Machine then add upgrades as & when needed as our CNC experiance grows!

paulus.v
04-02-2017, 03:55 PM
Would the laptop be ok, if we disable the power saving functions & had it plugged into the mains rather than battery power?


The laptop is a problem if you are using the parallel port to control the CNC. For USB or ethernet controllers it is fine.

Jacks
04-02-2017, 04:04 PM
My Hubbies posts are going to admin before posting he wrote,

THANKS for the info John,
Did a quick google & Ebay search foer Ethernet CNC & it just came up with boards etc, so are these upgrades for a the parallel port machines? I was origional looking at this https://www.amazon.co.uk/HPcutter-Machine-Engraving-Engraver-Cutting/dp/B013JLFB7I/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1486219249&sr=8-17-spons&keywords=Cnc%2BMachine&th=1

Do you have any links to suitable/quality new machines, I realise It looks like we'll have be paying more than our origional budget (story of my life) but if these Ethernet boards etc are upgrades? I am hoping to start off with a quality Machine then add upgrades as & when needed as our CNC experiance grows!

Jacks
04-02-2017, 04:06 PM
The laptop is a problem if you are using the parallel port to control the CNC. For USB or ethernet controllers it is fine.

If hes right about these usb & ethernet boards being upgrades, could we start off with a decent machine upgrade the controllers later?

terry1956
04-02-2017, 04:28 PM
hi. OK. to answer some of your questions. Ethernet boards use an Ethernet cable not the parallel cable and work better with lap tops due to the way the signal is pasted to the board. as you may know laptops are set up differently then desk top machines, battery saver being one of them, which will upset the internal clock of the laptop. and its this internal clock that the cnc works on. people use old desktops running windows xp or 7. because it allows the use of the parallel cable, windows 10 will not, but will run an Ethernet board. most people I think make their own cnc conversion, shop items in the uk are very expensive. the cheapest I machine I know of is the proxxon mini mill which as the motors etc fitted but you would still need to buy the boards to talk to the machine. Its not cheap this cnc stuff.

paulus.v
04-02-2017, 04:56 PM
Did a quick google & Ebay search foer Ethernet CNC & it just came up with boards etc, so are these upgrades for a the parallel port machines? I was origional looking at this https://www.amazon.co.uk/HPcutter-Machine-Engraving-Engraver-Cutting/dp/B013JLFB7I/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1486219249&sr=8-17-spons&keywords=Cnc%2BMachine&th=1


Keep in mind what jazz posted above. If you want to use the machine for a business, it is not reliable. If it's for hobby and to get into the cnc world, than it could be better than a LEGO cnc. I see on amazon that most customers are satisfied with the machine. I have no personal experience with these cheap Chinese CNCs.

It is possible to upgrade to usb or ethernet but not worth it, for such a cheap machine. You have the option, for example, to get the UC100 + UCCNC software (http://www.shop.cncdrive.com/index.php?productID=718) and use your laptop instead of buying a desktop PC and a mach3 licence. But I cannot tell you more as I never used them.

Be aware that the machine you linked has only the demo version of mach3 software.

terry1956
04-02-2017, 05:38 PM
There is a proxxon mf70 Inc mill on eBay now for 375. So with a cheap breakout board for 38 pounds from cnc4u and demo programs to start with.you are up and running for 400 pounds or so.I had a mf70 and for light work it's a good machine for the money

Jacks
04-02-2017, 06:05 PM
Thanks guys for the info so far

Do you have any links or model nos to quality new machines that we could start with then upgrade the boards etc if needed later?

terry1956
04-02-2017, 06:23 PM
Quality depends on money.look at euro trading and administer tools. There maybe other uk companies but I don't know of any

Steel
06-02-2017, 07:09 PM
Hope this doesn't confuse things but I'm Mr Jacks lol

Would the laptop be ok, if we disable the power saving functions & had it plugged into the mains rather than battery power?

Price isn't set in stone Ideally looking to spend £500 to £1000, certainly not thousands though.

Mr Jacks what work area size do you need ?
Laptops are ok with parallel ports but some wont drive the mach3 software at the right frequency so you can download a program to your laptop that should fix the issue, just set the program to run at start up and you wont need to start it each time, its called rightmark cpu. just check the "run HLT command when os is idle" box under management that should be the only setting you need to make

Chinese machines like the 3020 or 3040 and 6040 are good machines some may have loose bearings but there around 25 pd for a pair of x axis bearings if you need them. Again work area size is whats important just make sure whatever you buy or build you can fit your work piece

Bucks
06-02-2017, 08:47 PM
Mr Jacks what work area size do you need ?
Laptops are ok with parallel ports but some wont drive the mach3 software at the right frequency so you can download a program to your laptop that should fix the issue, just set the program to run at start up and you wont need to start it each time, its called rightmark cpu. just check the "run HLT command when os is idle" box under management that should be the only setting you need to make

Chinese machines like the 3020 or 3040 and 6040 are good machines some may have loose bearings but there around 25 pd for a pair of x axis bearings if you need them. Again work area size is whats important just make sure whatever you buy or build you can fit your work piece

THANKS for the info Dave, it's much appreciated
We are mainly wanting a cnc for engraving HDPE & Plastic (similar to stencils) that we can then use in patterns for casting silicone Moulds, so that we have some txt embossed into the side of the mould, the max size for these is about 50mm x 130mm, also we are would like to be able to engrave wooden pen cases & hopefully cut sections out of wooden & acrylic pen blanks! I.e. a take a acrylic blank approx 20mm diameter x 130-150mm long & cut out (with Valentine's Day coming up I'll say) hearts around the Blank then recast it with red resin so we get the red hearts in the blank when turned, also ideally maybe engraving pens & the bands but that maybe pushing it to far without a dedicated tiny machine? I realise the 30/40 machines I'm now looking at are bigger than required but if possible I'd like the option of being able to do other woodworking projects like plaques & clocks.

I wouldn't say it's for commercial use, but the penturning & moulds etc is a serious hobby that we are turning into a little sideline to boost our income.

I did order one of the parallel port 30/40s of Amazon, but cancelled it when I suddenly realised that my laptop that had been stashed in the cupboard for 6 years didn't even have a parallel port! I started looking on eBay at these two USB ones
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182425912226 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182253604089. I was thinking the 800w looks a lot better quality all round (as far as these Chinese ones go anyway) this is about at the top end of my budget!

So the big question is, Do you recon this 800w should do the job for us?

Steel
06-02-2017, 09:10 PM
THANKS for the info Dave, it's much appreciated
We are mainly wanting a cnc for engraving HDPE & Plastic (similar to stencils) that we can then use in patterns for casting silicone Moulds, so that we have some txt embossed into the side of the mould, the max size for these is about 50mm x 130mm, also we are would like to be able to engrave wooden pen cases & hopefully cut sections out of wooden & acrylic pen blanks! I.e. a take a acrylic blank approx 20mm diameter x 130-150mm long & cut out (with Valentine's Day coming up I'll say) hearts around the Blank then recast it with red resin so we get the red hearts in the blank when turned, also ideally maybe engraving pens & the bands but that maybe pushing it to far without a dedicated tiny machine? I realise the 30/40 machines I'm now looking at are bigger than required but if possible I'd like the option of being able to do other woodworking projects like plaques & clocks.

I wouldn't say it's for commercial use, but the penturning & moulds etc is a serious hobby that we are turning into a little sideline to boost our income.

I did order one of the parallel port 30/40s of Amazon, but cancelled it when I suddenly realised that my laptop that had been stashed in the cupboard for 6 years didn't even have a parallel port! I started looking on eBay at these two USB ones
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182425912226 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182253604089. I was thinking the 800w looks a lot better quality all round (as far as these Chinese ones go anyway) this is about at the top end of my budget!

So the big question is, Do you recon this 800w should do the job for us?

From what i understand the spindles on the 3020 and 3040 machines are not that good im using a KATSU 3/8" & 1/4" router got it from ebay for 40 pd new on my 3020T machine
Im running a old ibm T42 with that bit of software i mentioned and it runs fine that cost me 18 pds on ebay, the cd didn't work nor the wifi but don't need those for cnc use.
on ebay now there's this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CNC-Engraver-3020T-3-Axis-Router-Drilling-Milling-Machine-/292020512851?hash=item43fdc76853:g:TWAAAOSw5cNYl4~ S
worth buying if you can get it for under 250 pd, i paid 235 for mine and apart from a little slack in the x axis bearings its fine so far.
I think its a good place to start as there's only these 3 and 6 series machines for under a grand that have good ridged alloy structure and you can replace the bearings for under 70 pd for all axis's so really no point buying one new, some people have wiring problems but again if you have to replacing the wiring is not going to cost you more than a trip to the scrap metal yard and a quick look in there wire bin !!
Other points to remember if your using the spindle that comes with the machine you should be fine buying end mills to fit but if like me your using a router with 1/4 chuck you need to get a 1/4 to 1/8th adapter less that 10 pd
what size fonts will you be using on your text ?

Bucks
06-02-2017, 09:28 PM
To be honest I'm not really one for buying used gear if I can help it, I am seriously thinking of this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182253604089 it's USB, 800w water cooled spindle & has ball screws, but I'd be hoping if I bought this I wouldn't have to spending much on it for a while!
Font size I haven't even thought of that yet but I would be thinking of probably about 8-10mm high on these stencil type things!

Bucks
06-02-2017, 09:32 PM
Even this 400w air cooled USB one seems to be higher spec than the standard parallel with 230w spindles http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182425912226

Bucks
06-02-2017, 09:33 PM
Hope I'm ok adding links to items on eBay?

Bucks
06-02-2017, 09:42 PM
I did start looking into the proxxon that someone had suggested, We might have just about managed with the size of it just for the bare minimum we would want to do, but certainly wouldn't be able to do the extra stuff like plaques & clocks etc plus i an thinking we would need a 4th axis for these pen blanks & pens etc

Steel
06-02-2017, 10:02 PM
have a look on youtube at the kind of text quality you get on a 3020, 3040 or a 6040 and also on a proxxon MF70 mill converted to cnc
I think second hand is great because just think what you can buy to upgrade the secondhand machine like a kress spindle bigger steppers better driver boards full alloy plate bed conversion lol you could make a really nice pimped up 3020T for the price you would pay new you could even buy a ton of end mills of every type just for a kress spindle too.
Just a note some plastics will melt through friction when cutting so you need to investigate that further

you could just someone with all the equipment to do all the cnc work for you ?

Clive S
06-02-2017, 10:17 PM
Even this 400w air cooled USB one seems to be higher spec than the standard parallel with 230w spindles http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182425912226

I suggested that you did some research and it does not look like you have. This one you linked to does not have ball screws so how can it be a higher spec? These machine will not make moulds are not reliable and will break down within weeks. They are telling you that you do not need a Mach3 license which is a lie.

Have you thought about the CAD & CAM side of things.

If you ask enough people you will get the answer you want but if you hell bent on throwing your money away then good luck.

Bucks
06-02-2017, 10:31 PM
Have been looking at YouTube videos but not really seen much txt will have to have another look!

Still not convincing me on secondhand lol, as I don't want to have to start looking into replacing everything almost as soon as I've bought it.

I know the HDPE seems to machine with my router really well so that should be ok! the plastic stencil type thing I mention could be done with the HDPE aswell.

I did think about getting someone to do the cnc for me, but where's the fun in that lol, once I get sorted with a machine & set up I'm sure the whole family will have fun with it! My 10 year old daughter is already coming up with ideas she wants to do with it lol.

Bucks
06-02-2017, 10:39 PM
I suggested that you did some research and it does not look like you have. This one you linked to does not have ball screws so how can it be a higher spec? These machine will not make moulds are not reliable and will break down within weeks. They are telling you that you do not need a Mach3 license which is a lie.

Have you thought about the CAD & CAM side of things.

If you ask enough people you will get the answer you want but if you hell bent on throwing your money away then good luck.


What do you think all the questions are then if I'm not doing research??? (and by the way I'm not just asking questions, I've been researching non stop for the last 4-5days, i.e. YouTube, google, Amazon, Ebay & forums etc)
And yes I have thought of The CAD/CAM side of things & costs, but I know the answers so not asking the questions

Parallel port to USB, 230w-400w isn't this higher spec??? I didn't say that everything was higher spec,

My mum use to tell be if you haven't got anything good or positive to say, don't say anything!!!

Steel
06-02-2017, 10:52 PM
Heres a sample something i made last night, its not text but you can get an idea of the finish i can get on my second hand 3020T using a 1/4 inch end mill, i dont have any smaller end mills yet so i cant do text
20664

Bucks
06-02-2017, 10:52 PM
THANKS for all your feedback Steel it's much appreciated, it's people like you who make forums a pleasant experience :-)

Bucks
06-02-2017, 10:57 PM
Heres a sample something i made last night, its not text but you can get an idea of the finish i can get on my second hand 3020T
20664

THANKS for that! Don't know if I'm not searching right but for the life of me I can't really find any examples of txt with these machines! (probably because all these machines break down before anyone has chance to use them lol)

JAZZCNC
06-02-2017, 11:14 PM
What do you think all the questions are then if I'm not doing research??? (and by the way I'm not just asking questions, I've been researching non stop for the last 4-5days, i.e. YouTube, google, Amazon, Ebay & forums etc)
And yes I have thought of The CAD/CAM side of things & costs, but I know the answers so not asking the questions

Parallel port to USB, 230w-400w isn't this higher spec??? I didn't say that everything was higher spec,

My mum use to tell be if you haven't got anything good or positive to say, don't say anything!!!

Buck's you'll do well to listen to Clive he's trying to help you not feed you full of Shit like some on here are doing regards these Cheap chinese machines.
They will let you down and they will require maintenance in short period of time. All this talk of upgrading etc is rubbish because you can't make Silk purse out of sows Ear and that's what you buying with these machines.

Also Mach3 running from Laptop with parallel port is at best lottery, some work, most don't. It's also got nothing to do with the Frequency and everything thing to do with Voltage and power management. Also You CANNOT use Parallel port to USB converter and don't let anyone tell you different.
There are Special Devices like UC100 which are Motion control devices which go between the parallel port but there are not converters in the conventional sense.

The simple fact is these Chinese machines are OK for learning but they will break down and will require maintenance within short period of time.
If you buy one with the intension of using as learning tool and don't expect the world then will be fine. If your wanting to do high quality work in difficult materials then forget them they will disappoint you.

Steel
06-02-2017, 11:15 PM
Im off to bed will check in tomorrow around 7pm and see what text stuff i can find for you

Steel
06-02-2017, 11:25 PM
Hi Jazzcnc i have to disagree with you regarding running mach3 on a parallel port laptop and your remark about frequency, i have to ask where did you get your information from as i have successfully run a old ibm T42 that wont run the correct freq for mach3 as standard the only change i made was with a bit of software that changes the freq to the correct freq for mach3, nothing to do with port voltage or power management at all on this laptop oh except for turning of the screen saver timeout.

Bucks
06-02-2017, 11:44 PM
Buck's you'll do well to listen to Clive he's trying to help you not feed you full of Shit like some on here are doing regards these Cheap chinese machines.
They will let you down and they will require maintenance in short period of time. All this talk of upgrading etc is rubbish because you can't make Silk purse out of sows Ear and that's what you buying with these machines.

Also Mach3 running from Laptop with parallel port is at best lottery, some work, most don't. It's also got nothing to do with the Frequency and everything thing to do with Voltage and power management. Also You CANNOT use Parallel port to USB converter and don't let anyone tell you different.
There are Special Devices like UC100 which are Motion control devices which go between the parallel port but there are not converters in the conventional sense.

The simple fact is these Chinese machines are OK for learning but they will break down and will require maintenance within short period of time.
If you buy one with the intension of using as learning tool and don't expect the world then will be fine. If your wanting to do high quality work in difficult materials then forget them they will disappoint you.

THANKS for you input Jazz

With regards to Clive there are nicer ways of putting things ain't there, I've seen quite a few posts on here with people jumping down newbies throats for asking simple questions & not realising or having the sort of money that might be required in an ideal world, maybe people like Clive get fed up with these questions but he's sort of comments don't make newbies feel very welcome!

With regards to your comments on the parallel ports on laptops, I've since realised my laptop doesn't have a parallel port, so am now looking at the USB conected machines

Unfortunatly these Chinese machines are all I can afford, so that's why I'm wanting to buy new rather than used, so hopefully it will last a little longer before having to replace parts, hopefully this 800w water cooled with USB & ball screws that im looking at sounds like a bit better quality than the others (I could be wrong)

What do you class as difficult materials? We'll be using HDPE, Hardwood, epoxy & polyurethane resins, all are lovely to turn on a lathe so I'm hoping that they arnt difficult materials!

Clive S
07-02-2017, 12:04 AM
My mum use to tell be if you haven't got anything good or positive to say, don't say anything!!!
20665

If you re read all may posts to you from both threads you will see that you only have had good advise from me.
You only seem to want to hear the positive on these machines and sticking your head in the sand on the negatives.

So go ahead and convince yourself that the machine is wonderful and a good investment and listen to what Dean has said who probably has had more experience than anybody else on the forum.

JAZZCNC
07-02-2017, 12:15 AM
Hi Jazzcnc i have to disagree with you regarding running mach3 on a parallel port laptop and your remark about frequency, i have to ask where did you get your information from as i have successfully run a old ibm T42 that wont run the correct freq for mach3 as standard the only change i made was with a bit of software that changes the freq to the correct freq for mach3, nothing to do with port voltage or power management at all on this laptop oh except for turning of the screen saver timeout.

I got my information from years of using Mach3 and dealing with people who have tried to use laptops. If you read again I didn't say cannot use Laptop I said it's lottery.!!
You where lucky and have "ONE" that works but there are many that don't and it's got nothing to do with frequency on most. Often it's because of the way laptops are designed hardware wise regards power mangement and the Voltage they provide at the port. It's known Fact and actually stated by Artsoft that Mach3 isn't Compatible or supported when using Laptops because of in consistances between them.

Only safe way to use Laptop and KNOW it will work reliably is via an external motion controller.! . . . .Parallel port becomes lottery with Laptops.

Jacks, Clive like many on here doesn't have time to waste on people who don't listen which happens often on Forums. He wasn't to me jumping down your throat he was trying to get you to listen and some times this needs Shock tactics.! . . . Don't take offense just need Tuffen up little because you'll get more along the way it's just how forums are.! . . Clives a Good Egg who knows is stuff.

Regards Materials it's not always about the Actual Hardness that makes them tuff materials to cut it's the feeds and speeds required to cut correctly. It's here were these machines often fail badly. Just because they can cut the stuff doesn't mean they are cutting it correctly. To be honest I often see adverts for these machines and it makes me laugh when they state the materials they cut. . . Why.? . . Because they can't possibly reach the feeds required To cut most of those materials correctly and the harder ones they are just not strong enough to cut.!! . . End result is poor finish quality, low accuracy and high tool wear not to mention taking for ever to cut.!

But like I say great entry level learning tools.!! . . . . . . Most that sing there praises have probably never used proper CNC Router so know no different.! . . . .Those that have will tell you it's night and day difference.!

Bucks
07-02-2017, 12:32 AM
Only safe way to use Laptop and KNOW it will work reliably is via an external motion controller.! . . . .Parallel port becomes lottery with Laptops.

Is this the same as with a USB control box? our only option is a laptop as we don't have room for a PC due to our iMac! If we would need a external motion controller do you know what sort of price these would be?

JAZZCNC
07-02-2017, 12:42 AM
Is this the same as with a USB control box? our only option is a laptop as we don't have room for a PC due to our iMac! If we would need a external motion controller do you know what sort of price these would be?

Any device using USB with Mach3 would be considered External Motion controller. 99% of External Motion controllers USB or Ethernet will require and come with Plug-in software for mach3. This replaces the parallel port driver and tells mach3 how to talk to the new device. There are few chinese offerings which say don't require Plug-in but these are best avoided.
The only USB devise I'd recommend for Mach3 comes from these people and is about the cheapist way to convert from PP to USB. It's called UC100. They also have other higher spec USB Motion controllers but if spending that money then I'd recommending not using USB and go with Ethernet as it's much better and more stable. USB isn't great for CNC and not all so-called USB devices are the same.!
http://cncdrive.com/UC100.html

kingcreaky
07-02-2017, 01:39 PM
rofl at this thread.

20671

paulus.v
07-02-2017, 05:30 PM
Hi Jazzcnc i have to disagree with you regarding running mach3 on a parallel port laptop and your remark about frequency, i have to ask where did you get your information from as i have successfully run a old ibm T42 that wont run the correct freq for mach3 as standard the only change i made was with a bit of software that changes the freq to the correct freq for mach3, nothing to do with port voltage or power management at all on this laptop oh except for turning of the screen saver timeout.
Steel, are you still controlling a CNC with the IBM laptop via the parallel port?

Steel
07-02-2017, 07:58 PM
Steel, are you still controlling a CNC with the IBM laptop via the parallel port?

Hi Paulus yes i am, im running rightmark cpu clock utility without that the pulse frequency wont stay stable on 25000 instead it will jump around 2300 to 23900
Its everything to do with the cpu not the output voltage from the parallel port

link is here http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/rightmark_cpu_clock_utility.html

if you have a laptop with parallel port that wont run mach 3 at 25000 then run this piece of software and under management setting check box "Run HLT command when os is idle"
it works for me and i would be interested if it works on other laptops

Steel
07-02-2017, 08:31 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWqMpE5Z1QE There's a video of a 3020 engraving

paulus.v
07-02-2017, 10:52 PM
Hi Paulus yes i am, im running rightmark cpu clock utility without that the pulse frequency wont stay stable on 25000 instead it will jump around 2300 to 23900
Its everything to do with the cpu not the output voltage from the parallel port

link is here http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/rightmark_cpu_clock_utility.html

if you have a laptop with parallel port that wont run mach 3 at 25000 then run this piece of software and under management setting check box "Run HLT command when os is idle"
it works for me and i would be interested if it works on other laptops

I have the very same laptop, IBM T42 and am using it with my CNC router. I had and still have troubles with its parallel port. This is why I do not want anyone to go through what I went...

I'll explain the details later when I'll have the time. And I'll check the software that you're pointing, even if I'm a bit skeptic :joyous: