Mach 2 doesn't seem to be compatible with the system I put together to run my mill/drill conversion. So I'm looking for alternates.

I really liked Mach2, so is there anything somewhat similar to that layout out there? I've tried turbocnc. It seemed ok. But the issues I have with that, are is that it is DOS based. So I have to boot from a boot disk and won't have all my other programs available without rebooting. I also didn't like the fact that the DRO's didn't update as an axis was moving - it just said 'in motion'.

I downloaded deskcnc, and didn't really find it easy to get around in.

Any other suggestions? Obviously a trial version would be needed, and cost under $150 or so.

What are you using for Drivers?? Most conventional drivers, Gecko's, Xylotec ect.. are compatable with Mach1,Mach2.

guess I should have said my computer isn't compatible. :(

guess I should have said my computer isn't compatible. :(

I've never used Mach 2, but it is windows based. TurboCnc is dos based. What kind of system are you trying to run it on?

I can run from either via a boot disk. But would definately perfer windows based.

I am just wondering if it is official that mach2 doesnt work on your computer, or you have just given up trying? Have you posted your questions on the mach2 forum?

What operating system do you use? Have you tried Master5, another program that is made by the same maker of Mach2. This program will run on operating systems earlier than XP.

Some folks swear by Linux ENC, while others swear at it, have you considered trying that program?

what is the max khz on the linux controller? i couldnt find it listed on there website.

Yup, sure have posted my problem on the yahoo group. The responce from Art was "The lockup is not good. You may need the special driver, I would try it for
kicks by running the specialdriver.bat file and then retrying, some of the
small shuttle boards are reported as good, others are not..."

Tried the special driver...same thing. Mach2 locks up the system immediately. Running the drivertest.exe (I know that's not exactly what it's called) does fine until the display reads "under mach 1 control", then locks up. It does display a pulse rate before it locks up though. :stickpoke:

Kind of ticks me off. I put that system together just for controlling my machine. The small form factor is the reason why, before you ask;).

I've read alot about the video card being an issue. So I threw in an old video card I had laying around. Couldn't figure out how to disable the onboard video in the BIOS, but it is disabled in windows. Still same problem.

I feel like crying now....someone hold me. :p

As far as linux? I'd rather not go that route, unless I find a program that I really like.

Because the linux controller is not theres. EMC can be found here:

http://www.linuxcnc.org/

Before giving up on Mach2 contact Art and ask him or use one of the Mach2 forums. TurboCNC is also really good but dos (dos knowledge required is typing turbocnc).

Graham

Give us your computer specs. MB, type and speed of processor, type of video card ect.. Also, what operating system are you running and how much RAM.

bet you it will end up being cheaper to buy a new motherboard and cpu for around 100 bucks(pricewatch.com) then will be to buy any other cnc controller that is as good as mach1-2 or better.

might be able to use your chip you have now too and resell the board on ebay. tell you now a ecs k7s5a (amd xp board) works fine with mach2 seen them as cheap as 25 bucks.

stay away from via chipset with use of mach1-2

Hello. Mach2 hangs on my WinXP box just as you describe. I believe the culprit is my video card's driver (ATI). What video card you have?
I run Mach2 on my Win2K laptop and it works great. I won't question that Mach2 needs to fix this bug but Windows shouldn't just lock up dead as it does either.

Cheers,
Julio

might also be problem if you rurnning a pen4 and have hyper threading turned on.

Here's the specs:

CPU support Socket 478-based Intel Pentium 4 processors up to 2.8GHz
(400 or 533MHz bus only)
Chipset SiS 651
North bridge SiS 651
South bridge SiS 962
Interconnect SiS MuTIOL (1GB/s)
PCI slots 1 32-bit/33MHz
AGP slots 1, 2X/4X AGP (1.5V only)
AMR/CNR slots None
Memory 2 184-pin DIMM sockets
Maximum of 2GB of DDR333/266/200 SDRAM
Storage I/O Floppy disk
2 channels ATA/133
Serial ATA None
RAID None
Legacy ports 1 PS/2 keyboard, 1 PS/2 mouse, Serial and Parallel ports
USB 4 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
Firewire 2 IEEE 1394 ports via integrated south bridge Firewire controller
Audio 6-channel audio via SiS 962/ALC650 south bridge/codec
front, rear, and center output, mic and line in inputs
Video SiS 651 integrated
Ethernet 10/100 Fast Ethernet via RealTek RTL8101L
BIOS Award
Bus speeds FSB: 100 or 133MHz
Bus dividers None
Voltages None
Monitoring Voltage, fan status, and temperature monitoring

I copy and pasted that from http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2003q2/msi-mega651/index.x?pg=1

Items I have installed:
P4 2.2 (not HT)
256MB of PC2100 RAM (will have a 512 stick in a few days)
2 small hard drives both Maxtor if I remember correctly
CD-ROM
I'm also using a Netgear 802.11B wirless USB network adaptor (extremely surprised it works clear out in the garage)
The video card I installed, is a 3d Blaster Banshee(PCI).

I have disabled the modem within the BIOS. Couldn't figure out how to disable the video card from the BIOS, so just settled on disabling it in Windows.

If you guys have any ideas on what may be causing it, I would love to be able to give Art my $150. :) I'm sure he wouldn't mind either.

Just a quick guess, but the onboard video card could certainly be a problem if its not disabled in the bios. Also, you are using a 6 year old 16meg card in a pci slot. I would get at least a 64meg agp card for any kind of performance. :cheers:

Did you use the spyware detector as they advised in the instructions?
Did you disable and remove Quicktime (sh1ttime) ( Go on kick me out of the forum now :) )

These are known things that cause problems.

EDIT: What version are you having problems with? I use version 4 because so far it has not let me down, unlike later versions.

Just a quick question - Has anyone else used wireless to run MACH2? I've considered it but using a standalone for now. Cheers - Jim

Couldn't live without it. I do all my processing on my 'big' PC, save the code to a shared location on my server and load it on a laptop using wireless. I'm really glad I didn't have to run CAT5 to my garage. BTW, I was concerned with network delays and hicups while cutting but Mach2 seems to load the entire file to memory before starting so that's not an issue.

Later,
Julio

Hi I am new to this but I also had problems with a computer I built for Mach 2 I found it was the VIA cpu and VIA chip set.The easy answer was a Dell from http://www.computer-show.com/ I have no affiliation with this company but I have bought three Dells from them for the three machines (Mills) that I have working. At $125 for a 750mhz computer I think its a cheap fix

Benny, downloading a spyware detector as I type.

Quicktime isn't installed. Just installed win2k so I haven't had the chance to get all the bloatware installed thank god.

Also trying with the version they have for download (trial). Is there somewhere I can get an older version? I downloaded Mach1 and Master5 last night. Any chance of them not having the same problems?

For the life of me, I could not find an option to disable the onboard video. It's probably a jumper or something. The motherboard documentation isn't that good with this system.

malcinc, that is a good price. But this system WILL work damn it! :) Mach2 isn't really a necessity, I just really like it compared to what else was out there.

According to thispage (http://www.premiopc.com/discontinued/support/faq/s651.html) adding an AGP video card will automatically disable the onboard video. If you have one in your main PC, it may be worth trying. Personally, I would get a new motherboard rather than try to use Mach1 or Master5 since the pulse rates are not as good. Hell, you've come this far, it would be a shame to compromise now:)

Like the others, I would look for a computer hardware solution, because a windows alternative to mach 2 for under $200.00 does not exist.

Eric

Booooooooooo! :bs:

I guess the next time I feel like messing with it, I'll try the agp card out of my main box. As far as buying anything else for this PC, nope, not gonna do it. It will run whatever I decide to use. Or better yet, I will decide to use whatever it will run :p . I've already had turbocnc up and running one motor just to make sure it would work. So until I have time to mess with it, the old dos boot disk will have to work for now. As much as the small problems I have with turbocnc, I will have to suffer until I have time to try something else.

Oh and by the way, I tried Mach1, and it wouldn't even complete the install. So much for that idea.

Thanks for the link kong. That's alot more info than I could find!

If you're going to use TCNC, and have a pretty new Win2K install and some time to kill, I'd try to avoid the DOS boot disk route. Reformat the drive, create a small FAT partition and install DOS. Then reinstall Win 2K and you can dual boot, and you won't need to always keep the disk around.

ger21, is dos free? I've never actually installed it before.

http://www.freedos.org
Bit of a workup to install, but well worth it!

I have a theory why MAch2 wont work for you. (It worked on my via boards). Via has some serious bus problems. They only affect VERY rare hardware/software combinations (like GEforce2 cards and some software... weird they wouldnt FIX support for very popular boards) but they have data throughput problems. Mach2 appears to do some very WICKED things to your OS to get its performance. It Appears to take control of your system timer and slow it to a crawl to fool windows into letting it use the serial port much faster. It works but its a damn strange solution.

Try Kcam http://www.kellyware.com/kcam/index.htm
Its got an infinitely better user interface. It will give you plenty of speed etc and in my experience is just easier to use. The ONLY affordable pc based controller ive seen that beats it is Turbocnc. And like you i dont want the headaches booting to DOS gives.

My current system is a via 1.8ghz with 128 meg ram (ya i know but i spend my money on al and endmills lately heh) and i have zero problems with milling WHILE im chatting or doing other things on the same system. And it doesnt do whacky things to your system timing (its interesting to find your clock moving 1 second per minute hours after shutting down Mach1).

(No affiliation with Kcam it just won me over). It's $95 to register.

I think this wickedness you speak of is the key to Mach2's success. By creating a driver which can take priority in the system means an almost flawless pulse-train, meaning smoother movements and less lost steps. Of course, TurboCNC does the same job, but in DOS mode. If you don't like the Mach2 interface, you can design a new one too.
Vent over :)