New machine has knackered control box :-( Need a new one

[Boyan Silyavski]

I answered you in private, but for the benefit of others.

for that money and less i will buy:


DDCSV1 offline controller + 3-4x AM822 drives +PSU with proper voltage for the motors.

or


CSMIO 4 axis + 3-4x AM822 drives +PSU with proper voltage for the motors.


or


All in one Leadshine MX4660 4-Axis Stepper Drive or the MX3660 3 axis combo +PSU


or

UCCNC



In that particular order, as my personal preference. But if anyone that sees all too complicated then preference goes to all in one solutions. Mach3 is needed for all but first and last solution. Then one day if you decide on a bigger machine, all electronics -PSU will be ready.

[ravihotwok]

is there a similar alternative so I can use the planet cnc software a I have just purchased the license?

[Boyan Silyavski]

Its said many times in the forum : DO NOT BUY before you know what you are doing.

Anyway, you can buy their board and buys separately better drives for the motors and make the box.

There is also the http://cncdrive.com/UCCNC.html which people report is a very nice solution. They have all components also. Ethernet connection, which is better than USB.



I have a feeling you are going to make some other mistake, so why dont you stop, take a minute and start from point 0. Buy a multi meter and check connections. Whats the hurry? I also was in you situation with my first machine and it took me some time to figure whats happening.

[ravihotwok]

Cheers mate will have a look, this is a long term sort of investment, I have seen numerous comments about the control box I have being of poor quality, so want to start off with the best equipment possible within my budget. Had the machine a few weeks now and not even fitted a tool into it, the fact im having to use a multimetre on a brand new product tells me that this is a poor way to start.
Everyone seems to be using mach 3 so im also a bit gutted ive bought the planet software now :-(

But i dont have a parallel port on the pc I have for the machine

[Boyan Silyavski]

Aint there someone local to you to help you? if i was there i could sort that problem for half an hour.


I know the feeling. Thats how i felt when for first time i read my first 350 pages VDF manual, i had no bloody idea what they are talking about. i wanted to cut but couldn't spin the spindle



These crappy 4 pin connectors have bugged me once and it took me all day to find that the connector pin inside was broken??. So when i saw the guy making a box with that connectors, it tells me much what we are talking about. How to tell you to buy a 500+VAt board with the crappiest connectors i know of...


You could try speaking with the guy for money back. In Europe even there is law how many days after purchase you could do that...


Mach3 is crap and try to avoid it if you dont need it for specific purpose machine. Yours is not, so just avoid it. So maybe the first and the last solutions from above post are best for you. I could help you set up the first solution if you have problems understanding it.

Just choose some right direction, many people will help you here

[ravihotwok]

Well Boyan, I have sorted a multi-meter so will be online tonight when I am at my workshop with the control box open infront of me. Im trying to read up as much as I can but like you say if someone was here im sure I would be up and running in no time.

Im also wondering if its worth maybe buying the planet cnc 4 axis board and do away with the 3 axis and 4th axis board I currently have? I am buying a new spindle next week which comes with its own controller so that would pretty much mean I have a new box setup? Does that make any sense?

I am getting a partial refund from the seller for the faulty box by the way so that is a help.

[Clive S]

But i dont have a parallel port on the pc I have for the machine

If you look here #336 http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/9616-...-be-Zeus/page5 Andrew is donating some pc's with PP for the cost of the postage I believe.

Mach3 is crap and try to avoid it if you dont need it for specific purpose machine. Yours is not, so just avoid it. So maybe the first and the last solutions from above post are best for you. I could help you set up the first solution if you have problems understanding it.

Boyan I don't believe Mach3 is crap there are many many thousands of people using it and it is well supported by fellow members etc.

[ravihotwok]

Cheers clive,

dont want to sound thick (although that is inevitable)

what do you mean when you say "Andrew is donating some pc's with PP for the cost of the postage I believe. "

[Clive S]

Cheers clive,

dont want to sound thick (although that is inevitable)

what do you mean when you say "Andrew is donating some pc's with PP for the cost of the postage I believe. "

Did you follow the link?

[Boyan Silyavski]

If you look here #336 http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/9616-...-be-Zeus/page5 Andrew is donating some pc's with PP for the cost of the postage I believe.



Boyan I don't believe Mach3 is crap there are many many thousands of people using it and it is well supported by fellow members etc.

Its just my opinion. For me it is crap. Now. Not at the moment when was useful as there were not many solutions. I had a cracked copy of it and i went and payed full license. To help them develop it. I have invested additional 100euros in plugins for Mach3. have 2 dedicated PCs to run it. So after all that if i say its crap, then that should tell anyone Now/ not before 5 years/ there is a reason to avoid it. If you dont have a special machine that needs it.