frustrated with g-rex

[skankpile]

I bought this as I thought it would be the end-all to my controller hastles. But, when trying to get updates, or info on this product its like pulling teeth.

I was going to use it to control 3-axis router with mach 3.. no problemo, and I also wanted to controll a 4-axis EDM, but seems there is little hope of this happening... as foamworks & gmfc.. the ones I like for EDM use parallel only.

I'm thinking of not even installing the grex in my build and waiting for the smoothstepper instead.. its 1/3 the price, just as fast, uses USB so all my machines can use it... am I wrong.. do you think the smoothstepper is the way to go over the grex?

[BobWarfield]

Skip them both and go parallel.

I've had a GRex for several years waiting on spindle sync for threading on a lathe. It just hasn't happened despite being promised many many times. There's a bit of a tussle between various parties over whether it is a firmware (GRex) or Mach 3 problem, and in the end of the day it doesn't really matter. The users don't have the feature.

Then the news about issues with moves for mills came out on GRex, which it seems really limits the advantage there. Meanwhile, the pulse rates are way up on Mach and it seems that the parallel port remains the best performing and best all-round platform for Mach 3.

Maybe ncpod and these others things will be better, but what I learned from the experience is go with what the vast majority of the user community has and don't be on the bleeding edge. Artsoft just doesn't really have the manpower to support things on the edge, and neither, apparently, does Gecko.

Both companies make excellent products, but stick to their power alley!

When one of these other things has been out for like 2 years and all the problems are solved, then maybe I would consider one.

YMMV, just one man's opinion.

Cheers,

BW

[ger21]

Right now it would seem that the only advantage to the SmoothStepper is faster pulse rates, and usb support. If you don't need either, then use the parallel ports like Bob said.

[ger21]

Artsoft just doesn't really have the manpower to support things on the edge, and neither, apparently, does Gecko.

Both companies make excellent products, but stick to their power alley!

Not really a fair statement about Gecko. They build hardware, and the Grex does exactly what it was designed to do. It was never designed expressly for Mach3 use.The firmware you referred to was written for Mach3 by a third party, not by Gecko or for Gecko. The fact that the Grex doesn't work with mach3 like everyone though it would is not Gecko's fault at all, imo.

[Mariss Freimanis]

ger21,

Thank you for your kind words but nonetheless we manufactured it and if someone is not satisfied with our product, we offer a full refund. The usual stuff applies: It must be less than 2 months old, in cosmetically perfect condition and be electrically undamaged.

Mariss

[skankpile]

I wont give up on it as I will be doing mostly simple things for molds, toys, 1-offs with no turning etc.. so the grex shoud do.. and I still will buy the smoothstepper for my 4-axis to keep with the gmfc stuff for long thin shapes and such.

I just am finding it harder and harder to find computers with parallel cables, and these products fill the niche for usb/nic.. I just see no way around it and in a few more years I bet when peoples old computers are choking with dust and they need to upgrade they will come across the same issues...

[ger21]

I just am finding it harder and harder to find computers with parallel cables

You can find $20 PCI parallel port cards everywhere.

[skankpile]

hahaha.. many new laptops dont have pci ports either.

The trend is for the manufactures to offer it, buy you have to buy a docking station or similar for another $200... for the hardware to support it. Then, I'd still be stuck with the bandwidth of a parallel port.. so I'm looking to the smoothstepp and grex