running mach 3 with a usb to parallel adapter

**Kendrick57** · 18-02-2015

I've just been investigating a diferent route a dedicated usb to parallel port adapter designed for use with Cnc machines the UC100 at a little under £100 not the cheapes but can easily move from computer to computer.
kendrick

**Neale** · 18-02-2015

That's not just a usb-parallel converter, that's a motion controller in its own right. I've no experience of them but in general terms an external motion controller like this, in conjunction with Mach3, can solve a lot of timing and parallel port issues, particularly if you are using a laptop with its more problematic timing characteristics.

It might not be the cheapest usb-parallel converter but it's pretty cheap for a motion controller.

**paulus.v** · 18-02-2015

Originally Posted by Kendrick57

I've just been investigating a diferent route a dedicated usb to parallel port adapter designed for use with Cnc machines the UC100 at a little under £100 not the cheapes but can easily move from computer to computer.
kendrick

Going with the UC300 you will have a lot more inputs and outputs than one parallel port plus some analog ones, which means you will need a cheap BOB with only optocouplers and screw terminals.

**Ger21** · 18-02-2015

A friend of mine with a UC100 actually switched from Mach3 to their UCCNC software, and found that it performed better than Mach3. It's 1/3 the price as well. The downside is that it's new, and right now doesn't have as many features as Mach3 does.

**Kendrick57** · 18-02-2015

Originally Posted by Ger21

A friend of mine with a UC100 actually switched from Mach3 to their UCCNC software, and found that it performed better than Mach3. It's 1/3 the price as well. The downside is that it's new, and right now doesn't have as many features as Mach3 does.

as far as the UC300 is concerned that would require a major modification of the cnc's controller box not somthing I want to do with this machine, the UC100 is to a major degree plug and play.
I already have the Mach3 license I did not think that UCCNC was compatable with the 6040 China machine I bought, before jazz and the rest of those out there that hate the chineese cnc range of machines sorry it's a fait accompli I am only interested in constructive comments on questions asked not my choice of machine.
kendrick

**njhussey** · 18-02-2015

It's not the CNC machine that the software talks to, it's the BOB/controller...this then sends pulses to the machine's steppers to move the spindle to the desired positions.

The Chinese machines serve a purpose and if you accept and work within their limitations then I think that they're great as you're then a member of the CNC world....

**Kendrick57** · 18-02-2015

That is the way I look at it if I waited until I had enough money to by a realy good machine I would never have enough, I set an amount I could afford put an O.N.O on it and went looking that was what I found. It is not the best but it ticks all of my boxes.
kendrick

**Neale** · 18-02-2015

The issue, Kendrick, is that often when you don't have too much knowledge about the subject (but are willing to learn!) then it's easy to ask the wrong question. In your case, you possibly started out with the wrong question, about a USB to parallel converter. In the context of a CNC router and Mach3, this really doesn't make a lot of sense but it might not be obvious why not. If you say, "I have this Chinese router that has a BOB that needs to plug into a parallel port, and I have a laptop with Mach3 but no parallel port so how do I make the two ends meet?" then that puts it into a better context, and you are more likely to get a useful answer. The correct answer to your original question was, in effect, "You can't get there from here", but actually there are some good solutions to the actual problem.

Of course, you might get some ribbing about some aspects of what you've said. Unfortunately, to get any sense out of these forums you have to take the rough with the smooth, or at least have a skin like a rhinoceros, but you will get some really useful feedback and suggestions if you pick through what is said. Just don't insist on getting your exact question answered, because with the best will in the world, sometimes it's just not the right question! As for Chinese machines - I have no experience of them, except that I'm sure that they won't do quite all that the advertising claims. But then, what does? I'm sure that used within its capabilities, it will be able to do a good job for you. I run a home-built router built from MDF. Frankly, it's crap, but it does work and as long as I am careful about what I am trying to do, it does a useful job. Your machine is probably a lot better than mine. It's also taught me that I need something better, which is what I am building at the moment, but we all come to this game from different directions, with different needs, and, frankly, different budgets. Good luck to you, carry on asking questions, listen carefully to the answers and think about whether or not you asked the right question, and if you need to, ask why someone said or recommended what they did.

Have fun!

**JAZZCNC** · 20-02-2015

Originally Posted by Kendrick57

before jazz and the rest of those out there that hate the chineese cnc range of machines sorry it's a fait accompli I am only interested in constructive comments on questions asked not my choice of machine.

How Rude.!!!. . . Did I say a word about the pile of shite.?

The UC100 is ok but it's still USB based and therefore will at some time have same power dropout issues lots of USB based devices encounter. Esp with a Laptop.!

For spindle control thru software you'll need speed control board or BOB that has one built into it. If Chinese machine came with the cheap Nasty DC spindle then chances are it won't have this and speed will be controlled directly from the DC speed controller with a Pot.
If spindle is AC and controlled with VFD then you may have BOB with PWM output so can control speed using this.

**Kendrick57** · 21-02-2015

Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

How Rude.!!!. . . Did I say a word about the pile of shite.?

The UC100 is ok but it's still USB based and therefore will at some time have same power dropout issues lots of USB based devices encounter. Esp with a Laptop.!

For spindle control thru software you'll need speed control board or BOB that has one built into it. If Chinese machine came with the cheap Nasty DC spindle then chances are it won't have this and speed will be controlled directly from the DC speed controller with a Pot.
If spindle is AC and controlled with VFD then you may have BOB with PWM output so can control speed using this.

Sorry jazz I'm new and before I joined I looked at a few threads in which you always popped up with scathing comments about the Chinese shite as you put it. I know it's not the best but it will do what I want it to do I was on a limited budget.
as for the laptop I went through the power features and disabled them all, the flow of data will probably still be interrupted every so often but the UC100 should cope with that.
the reason for the uc100 as apposed to the various other methods out there is ease of fitting and not wanting to open up the control box.
looks like the spindle is a cheap and nasty DC one but should be a lot better than those on the 3040, I'll live with the spindle being under manual control, if the speed can never be controlled but there is a pin to switch the motor on and off I'll see if I can make up a relay circuit to control the start stop of the spindle.
I have at least got a pot and herz digital readout on the control box I'll learn.
just got a set of diamond shaped cutting bits for the Cnc came from China so there is no knowing the quality, anyone know where I can get better quality bits must be diamond cut 2mm or a bit less I'm cutting carbon fiber up to 5 mm thick.

kendrick