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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.
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Mach3 will NOT work with a USB to parallel converter cable. It needs
a real parallel port, or a 3rd party motion controller like a UC100
or Smoothstepper.
If you can find an older PC with a parallel port, Mach3 will run the
machine in Demo mode.
Gerry
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Show quoted text
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.
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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.
|
?
>>Right
now I have mach 3 running in demo mode, but it doesn't have any affect on the
lathe
?
? You cannot use a 25 pin to usb. USB cannot
be used at all. It needs to plugin into an actual 25 pin printer port. Nothing
short of that will do, either a plugin pci card with a printer port on it, or a
native printer port, USB convertors will not work..
?
?
Thanks,
Art
?
?
?
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2015 5:34
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.
|
Conflicting information about laptops is because some work better than
others. The ones that don't, have eco settings that will kick in a screw things
up.?If you've got a laptop with a printer port it's worth a shot if you
disable all power saving. Safer to start with a PC. Even a cheap old one. The
spec needed isn't high.
?
A motion controller is needed to run from a USB or even better Ethernet
port like a Smooth Stepper.
?
Any old printer cable would do as long as it's pin to pin and there's no
crossing over going on.
?
Probably best to start with an old PC.
?
Dave
?
?
?
?
?
In a message dated 06/02/2015 21:34:10 GMT Standard Time,
mach1mach2cnc@... writes:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
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 th e "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.?
< /p>
So? what should I do??
Thanks in advance,?
Matt.
|
Thank you very much for the info! I can't wait to see if these lathes work.?
I will have to find a computer with a serial printer port.
Thanks again.
Matt.
|
Thanks for clearing that up. I knew it was to good to be true.?
Will a 25 pin to the smaller 9 pin serial work? I have another laptop with that. I think it's a VGA cable port or something. ?Will that work?
Otherwise I will have to scrounge for an old desktop or laptop running XP with a printer port.?
Thanks again,
Matt.
|
Thanks for clearing that up. I knew it was to good to be true.?
Will a 25 pin to the smaller 9 pin serial work? I have another laptop with that. I think it's a VGA cable port or something. ?Will that work?
Otherwise I will have to scrounge for an old desktop or laptop running XP with a printer port.?
Thanks again,
Matt.
Hi Matt,
In no way can I be called an expert in this but have been down your road earlier myself. After buying and throwing and buying and throwing; I have come to firmly believe that the only problem free solution is the basic ?under the desk“ mini tower or whatever they call it with XP. None of the fancy doo dahs on laptops are wanted and should be removed or disarmed.? Remove everything else from its Apps list and make sure it does not have an internet (bug) connection. To load a G-Code file, create it on your ?inside“ computer then virus scan the file and load it into the computer which drives the CNC machine with a thumb drive.
I don’t need or want upgrades or antivirus or powersaving. All of that is disarmed and / or removed.
Since I did this I have never missed a beat in either the mill or lathe computers. ?
Russell Dunn Ferlach Austria
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Matt,
you are confusing a serial port with a parallel port.
mach3 will not work on a serial port or a vga port.
Chuck
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----- Original Message ----- From: "mattcrowe20@... [mach1mach2cnc]" <mach1mach2cnc@...> To: <mach1mach2cnc@...> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2015 12:23 PM Subject: Re: [mach1mach2cnc] Using mach 3 Demo mode Thanks for clearing that up. I knew it was to good to be true.
Will a 25 pin to the smaller 9 pin serial work? I have another laptop with that. I think it's a VGA cable port or something. Will that work?
Otherwise I will have to scrounge for an old desktop or laptop running XP with a printer port.
Thanks again,
Matt.
|
Ok, so it won't work it seems. I will find an old desktop.?
Just to be perfectly clear, (sorry, I'm not a computer guy) I want a computer with the "hot pink" 25 pin port at the back? ?I thought that was called serial, sorry.?
Thanks again for helping get this off the ground.
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The 25 pin port is the parallel port, the one you want. ?The serial port is a much smaller port/connector. With a serial port, all the data goes over one pin/wire in serial fashion. ?With a parallel, each bit has it’s own pin/wire and all the bits in each byte go over together (in parallel). ?That’s why it requires more pins.
rex
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Show quoted text
Ok, so it won't work it seems. I will find an old desktop.?
Just to be perfectly clear, (sorry, I'm not a computer guy) I want a computer with the "hot pink" 25 pin port at the back? ?I thought that was called serial, sorry.?
Thanks again for helping get this off the ground.
|
Thanks Rex,?
I think I got confused because of people interchanging the terms via a google search when looking for the proper cable.?
I actually have the original 25 pin cable, now I just need an old computer to plug it into.?
Thanks
Matt.
|
It may or may not be pink in color, but it
will be a 25-pin Female connector on the PC(it will have holes instead of pins)
?
If you find a PC with a Male 25-pin port,
that IS a serial connector, and will not work with Mach3.
?
From:
mach1mach2cnc@... [mailto:mach1mach2cnc@...]
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2015
1:23 PM
To: mach1mach2cnc@...
Subject: [mach1mach2cnc] Re: Using
mach 3 Demo mode
?
?
Thanks
Rex,?
I think I got confused because of people interchanging the terms via a
google search when looking for the proper cable.?
I actually have the original 25 pin cable, now I just need an old
computer to plug it into.?
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Rex,
just an FYI the older original serial ports were also 25pin D-SUB connectors on the rear of the PC, the main physical difference was the PP had holes(female) and the serial had pins(male).
Chuck
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----- Original Message ----- From: "REX SMITH black33ford@... [mach1mach2cnc]" <mach1mach2cnc@...> To: <mach1mach2cnc@...> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2015 1:15 PM Subject: Re: [mach1mach2cnc] Re: Using mach 3 Demo mode The 25 pin port is the parallel port, the one you want. The serial port is a much smaller port/connector. With a serial port, all the data goes over one pin/wire in serial fashion. With a parallel, each bit has it’s own pin/wire and all the bits in each byte go over together (in parallel). That’s why it requires more pins. rex On Feb 7, 2015, at 10:05 AM, mattcrowe20@... [mach1mach2cnc] <mach1mach2cnc@...> wrote:
Ok, so it won't work it seems. I will find an old desktop.
Just to be perfectly clear, (sorry, I'm not a computer guy) I want a computer with the "hot pink" 25 pin port at the back? I thought that was called serial, sorry.
Thanks again for helping get this off the ground.
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Right, too far back for me. :)
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Show quoted text
Rex,
just an FYI the older original serial ports were also 25pin D-SUB connectors?
on the rear of the PC, the main physical difference was the PP had?
holes(female) and the serial had pins(male).
Chuck
----- Original Message -----?
From: "REX SMITH?black33ford@...?[mach1mach2cnc]"?
<mach1mach2cnc@...>
To: <mach1mach2cnc@...>
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2015 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: [mach1mach2cnc] Re: Using mach 3 Demo mode
The 25 pin port is the parallel port, the one you want. The serial port is?
a much smaller port/connector.
With a serial port, all the data goes over one pin/wire in serial fashion.?
With a parallel, each bit has it’s own pin/wire and all the bits in each?
byte go over together (in parallel). That’s why it requires more pins.
rex
> On Feb 7, 2015, at 10:05 AM, mattcrowe20@... [mach1mach2cnc]?
> <mach1mach2cnc@...> wrote:
>
> Ok, so it won't work it seems. I will find an old desktop.
>
>
> Just to be perfectly clear, (sorry, I'm not a computer guy) I want a?
> computer with the "hot pink" 25 pin port at the back? I thought that was?
> called serial, sorry.
>
> Thanks again for helping get this off the ground.
>
>
>
>
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Alright thanks chuck and Rex.?
I'm going to go to the local electronics recycler and see if I can get lucky! ?
Here's hopin.?
Matt.?
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Troy:
Please don't hijack my thread. :)
Start a new one if you have your own questions.
However it sounds like you're getting some success with your machine. Nice job.
Matt.
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