Matt,
I can answer the first 2 questions.
Yes Mach3 will send outputs in demo mode the only limitation of demo mode is the 500 lines of gcode.
Mach3 will run on laptops the main limitation is if you're using the Parallel Port the voltage on some newer ones is only 3volts which wont drive most PP controllers.
as far as the actual hook up to the Emco lathes I have no experience or knowledge of the interface.
Chuck Smalfus
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----- Original Message -----
From: "mattcrowe20@... [mach1mach2cnc]" <mach1mach2cnc@...>
To: <mach1mach2cnc@...>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2015 4:34 PM
Subject: [mach1mach2cnc] Using mach 3 Demo mode
Hello there! This is my first post regarding Mach 3 and its capabilities, so please bear with me. I am a high school Metal Shop teacher trying to get some CNC going for the class.
I have a few EMCO compact 5 pc lathes I am trying to get running. They have not run since the late 90's but do turn on and the spindle turns with the key and switch. I have modified the U3 board by removing the chip with the octal latch and jumped the wires as per the instructions in the "digital machinist, 2007" write up. I have the lathe hooked up to a 25 pin serial port connector to a USB connector, and into a fairly new IBM thinkpad laptop running window XP.
I downloaded mach 3 in the demo mode to see if i could get something to happen, before I spring for the full version of Mach3.
My first question: Will the "demo" mode actually move the stepper motors if connected correctly?
Second question: Will Mach 3 run off a laptop? I have seen conflicting information regarding this...
third question: Is the serial cable connector going from the lathe to the computer something special? I just bought one for a printer to usb so I can connect it to my laptop computer. I'm not 100% sure its the right one, hence nothing happening with the lathe.
It would be a big help getting started if I can get these 3 things figured out. Then i can start configuring mach 3 and see if there is any movement.
Right now I have mach 3 running in demo mode, but it doesn't have any affect on the lathe. I have all the settings set as the article in the digital machinist says.
So? what should I do?
Thanks in advance,
Matt.
