CNCdrive UC300ETH Mach3 plugin is now available

[A_Camera]

Lee -

Not really a channel. This is the first and only video I've posted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0biZJSnepU

It is of the router I built in one of the first test runs.

Nice machine.

Regarding the UC400 being a cut down version of the UC300, although the product numbering would lead you to believe otherwise, I think your're right.

It is not a cut-down UC300 at all, it is a completely different model. Yes, the numbering should have been different and according to me it should be called UC200ETH, but never the less, it is totally different design.

I bought the 400 because I wanted the best UCCNC controller and I thought that the 400 was the top of the line based on its product number and thats all the further I looked into it. I think the UC300ETH is better. It wasnt that much of an inconvenience to make the 400 work, just a couple extra components. And it is very fast! My servo's can handle a 500Khz data stream and the UC400 can stream at 400KHz very nicely. The ethernet connection can give you a lot of flexibility if you want to configure your network to work that way. I did not. I bought a dedicated computer to drive the router and simply used the ethernet cable just like one would use a USB cable.

I was going to buy the UC400ETH because it had the Mach3 plugin available, but was contected by Balazs and he asked me to reconsider, not only because they were working on the UC300ETH plugin already, but also because they offered a UCCNC license with the UC300ETH during that period, so I went for the UC300ETH.

Another thing I like about the UC400ETH is that you dont need another board like a smooth stepper etc. I used a breakout board like this: https://www.winford.com/products/brkg25.php Except mine has different connector that adapted to the UC400. Less than $25.

That breakout board is just a bunch of screw terminals, not optically isolated. I'd not use that with any of the CNC Drive products. There is even a warning about this in their manuals.

[Ger21]

The UC300 has 12V outputs, as well as 0-10V

I don't think it has 12V outputs, because it connects to standard parallel port breakout boards.
Also, I think the analog voltage varies depending on which motherboard you use, and I don't think it does 0-10V without a breakout board, does it?

[Ger21]

You are correct about the 0-10V output. I was confusing them with the analog inputs.

The 12V outputs on the analog port are not "outputs", but just 12V.

The UC300eth also has a 400Khz kernel speed.

[A_Camera]

You are correct about the 0-10V output. I was confusing them with the analog inputs.

The 12V outputs on the analog port are not "outputs", but just 12V.

The UC300eth also has a 400Khz kernel speed.

Yes.... well, it is an output, but yes it is just 12V. On when the card is powered up off after power off and in between it outputs 12V on those pins.

[Lee Roberts]

That breakout board is just a bunch of screw terminals, not optically isolated. I'd not use that with any of the CNC Drive products. There is even a warning about this in their manuals.

I've got something similar but I've also got one of these: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/252307419456

...as well. There is so many options these days, i think moving away from LTP and/or USB is a good move though.

[A_Camera]

I've got something similar but I've also got one of these: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/252307419456

...as well. There is so many options these days, i think moving away from LTP and/or USB is a good move though.

Yes, definitely agree that LPT and USB are not exactly optimal year 2016.
BTW, I have two identical BOBs. They also have 0-10V and are very goodand in my opinion. That BOB has six optically isolated inputs which are driven separately from the 5V logic if connected properly, outputs are through buffer driver and the relay is useful.

[John S]

Well had a look at the 300ETH manual and it's not exactly helpful is it ?
22 Pages, 20 of which tell you how to connect the ethernet and then a scant 2 pages giving the wiring of the pins.

aHowever they are all marked output 1, output2, etc, Analog 1, analog 2

Would it really hurt these peole is they supplied a diagram for a working 3 or 4 axis machine with VFD ?
You know it just might, note I said might, improve sales because at the moment anyone who isn't an EE is totally fazed by what has been released.

BTW can it do multiline encoder for lathe ?

[Ger21]

The UC300ETH basically has 5 parallel ports. There are different motherboards available which dictate the input and output pins.
Two ports are standard, and 3 ports use pins 2-9 as inputs.
The CNC4PC M44 board has 3 parallel ports, and two special ports, one for inputs, one for outputs. One of the 3 is standard and two use pins 2-9 as inputs.

You plug in your breakout boards and wire it any way you want, just like a standard parallel port.

The analog I/O uses a separate header.

There is no lathe screen at this time. It does rigid tapping, so it may be able to use a multiline encoder. Not positive, though. Send them an email, they are very good with customer service.

[Lee Roberts]

The UC300ETH basically has 5 parallel ports. There are different motherboards available which dictate the input and output pins.
Two ports are standard, and 3 ports use pins 2-9 as inputs.
The CNC4PC M44 board has 3 parallel ports, and two special ports, one for inputs, one for outputs. One of the 3 is standard and two use pins 2-9 as inputs.

You plug in your breakout boards and wire it any way you want, just like a standard parallel port.

The analog I/O uses a separate header.

There is no lathe screen at this time. It does rigid tapping, so it may be able to use a multiline encoder. Not positive, though. Send them an email, they are very good with customer service.

What's your hardware setup Gerry ?

I'm confused, so do you need to buy a motherboard or dose it come with the one in the pic and shown in the manual?

[Ger21]

What's your hardware setup Gerry ?

I'm confused, so do you need to buy a motherboard or dose it come with the one in the pic and shown in the manual?

I think that it depends where you buy it from.
CNC4PC sells the motherboards separately. I think if you buy it from CNC Drive it comes with their 5 port motherboard.

Currently, it's sitting on my desk with a $5 chinese breakout board, plugged into the M44 motherboard. I'm just using it for testing and screen design work right now.

Not sure what breakout boards I'll use on my router, as it's still a year away. Maybe the C62, and an M23 for additional 24V inputs.
Or two C10's and an M23, which is a lot cheaper.

It's really flexible, and lets you do pretty much whatever you want.

I'll be running a mix of four DMM 400w AC servos and two steppers.