Mach 3 software or another program?

[A_Camera]

this is the exact model I have bought
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2323472905...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

In that case you should be able to make it work with any other software as well, but maybe no point in rushing anywhere, start with Planet CNC and see that everything is working.

[Saracen]

> Acceptable software:only CNCUSB

The fact that it came from China and only runs CNCUSB means it's probably based on a cloned Mk1 Planet-CNC controller and Planet-CNC will not support it in any way.

http://forum.planet-cnc.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=520

This was their stock response to people asking for support for one of these boards:

"Looks like you have one of Chinese counterfeit boards: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=520
We do not support these boards and therefore we cannot be responsible for any hardware or license malfunction.

You should turn to support and help to your merchant/seller that sold you this product.

However license that we provide should work with these controllers.

These boards are based on our first Mk1 controller which is obsolete and is not supported.
Many of its features are outdated and there is no software/firmware development.
It has a small buffer and weak processor, which reflects on bad machine performance.

You can purchase original controller or license in our web shop:
http://planet-cnc.com/products/"


The licence costs 69euros, plus VAT if applicable.

Adrian.

[Ger21]

You're machine most likely came with pirated hardware and/or software. Planet CNC has good support, if you buy the hardware and software license from them, or an authorized reseller.

Fwiw, most of the Mach3 controlled chinese machines on Ebay come with pirated copies of Mach3.
Anyone buying chinese machines should plan on replacing the hardware and software that they come with,if you want a reliable machine.

I think that UCCNC, Planet CNC, and Eding CNC are all arguably better than Mach3 at this time. All are actively being developed, where as Mach3 development stopped years ago.

[hanermo2]

I use Mach3 sw, and have done so since 2002, from mach2 days..

It is perfectly solid, and delivers industrial quality reliability and performance, on appropriate hw.

All "base" features will usually work on anything, be it linuxcnc, machx, or likely UCCNC.

The difficulties start to come up with advanced features, toolchangers, light bars, multiple toolposts, css, high accuracy threading etc.
Screw mapping, multiple spindles, and so on.
Multiple MPGs.

[Ger21]

The difficulties start to come up with advanced features, toolchangers, light bars, multiple toolposts, css, high accuracy threading etc.

Or, when you run into any of the well documented bugs that will never be fixed.

To be fair, most people never run into these bugs. And Mach3 is used by far more people than it's competitors. But the competition has passed it by.

[hanermo2]

The competition is no-where near to catching up to Machx... in reality.

In terms of nr of users, customisation, ability to run a wide variety of gcode including scaling etc. proper offsets etc.
And yes ...
-there are any nr of bugs in the old Mach3, not present in the new Mach4.
-And any nr of bugs/quirks in the wizards.
-And any nr of bugs/quirks in the hw-based plugins for motion-control engines, where the best are, imo, ime, Pokeys from Polabs and CSMI

But none of the new ones support a full or semi-full set of gcodes like *all of*
1. dual toolposts/offsets on lathe (mine),
1.1 dual-spindles (mine),
2. dual toolchangers (mine),
3. scaling with offsets,
4. accurate threading at 500 kHz up with full-encoder servo spindles like mine,
5. glass scale feeback (soon mine),
6. screw mapping (soon mine)
proper arcs to high resolution etc.

My point.
There are 8 modals and == 40-50 commands in gcode, resulting in a multi-million parameter space.
It is very hard to support and make the semi-full set work.

HAAS has problems with it, after 25 years, while spending millions per year at it. I used to work with them.

Or, when you run into any of the well documented bugs that will never be fixed.

To be fair, most people never run into these bugs. And Mach3 is used by far more people than it's competitors. But the competition has passed it by.

[Ger21]

Fortunately, nobody else has machines like you, which need all of these advanced features that are required by only you.

And many of the features you mention are motion controller specific, and not necessarily native to Mach3. A default Mach3 install with a parallel port can't do most of what you mentioned.

Number of users is a meaningless stat. So what if more people are using an inferior product? How is that a benefit?
UCCNC is every bit as customizeable as Mach3, and is probably easier to customize. It also supports scaling. And afaik, doesn't suffer from the many bugs that Mach3 has when using offsets.

[hanermo2]

The competition is no-where near to catching up to Machx... in reality.

In terms of nr of users, customisation, ability to run a wide variety of gcode including scaling etc. proper offsets etc.
There are any nr of bugs in the old Mach3, not present in the new Mach4.

And any nr of bugs/quirks in the wizards.
And any nr of bugs/quirks in the hw-based plugins for motion-control engines, where the best are, imo, ime, Pokeys from Polabs and CSMI

Or, when you run into any of the well documented bugs that will never be fixed.

To be fair, most people never run into these bugs. And Mach3 is used by far more people than it's competitors. But the competition has passed it by.

[hanermo2]

Who else has 1 ms feedhold ?
4 Mhz threading ?
Glass scale feedback at 4 Mhz ?
4 Mhz homing ?
Hw MPGs with instant feedback, due to 1 ms update loop ?
High-speed servo spindles, with differential signalling, for rigid tapping on mill and lathe ?
24V industrial IO ?

Please, let me know ...

To be honest, a bit less is fine...
but the real point is no-one else is near to Mach4/Mach3 in terms of commercial, running, working installations in scale, at good commercial quality.

I am/was a big commercial user of linux in a major, major $$$ way, for 20+ years.
And appreciate all the benefits, and know very well the $$/tech drawbacks.

And yes...
A top-end csmio setup is quite expensive, in hobby terms.

But a top-end csmio setup is for an industrial machine, where the lift alone is 600€ per end, to get it in place, electricity is 1000€ or so, and work for the techs is 2-5k€ per install.
And a commercial/industrial/production machine, has a huge nr of IO lines, most of which are critical.
My IO is about 130 lines now, and will be 200+ in the end.
And I do not have servo errors, resets, in-pos hooked up yet, x 2 x 5.

Any std industrial machine is 200 IO points plus..
Toolchangers, air/oil/pressure, interlocks, it all adds up.

But the competition has passed it by.

[Clive S]

Who else has 1 ms feedhold ?
4 Mhz threading ?
Glass scale feedback at 4 Mhz ?
4 Mhz homing ?
Hw MPGs with instant feedback, due to 1 ms update loop ?
High-speed servo spindles, with differential signalling, for rigid tapping on mill and lathe ?
24V industrial IO ?

Please, let me know ...

I am not getting into this debate but I believe Linuxcnc Master Branch can now do homing with slaved axis and the standard install can do all of the above with Mesa cards