laptop usb parallel port

[dgalaxy]

do the adapters to make your usb port a parralel port work good ?im asking this because my laptop does not have a parallel port for a break out board

[ger21]

If you mean will they work with software like TurboCNC or Mach3, no, they won't. A PCMCIA parallel port will work, though.

[dgalaxy]

do you happened to know of a good reliable one that works well with laptops

[ger21]

No, not off hand.

[abasir]

Here's one I've used and can recommend
http://www.transdigital.net/

[dgalaxy]

i think thats one im going to get

[Halfnutz]

I noticed while shopping for a new laptop recently that the PIII's were the last machines with parallel ports, so I bought a used one instead of a new one. None of the new ones I looked at had parallel ports. I wasnt aware of the PCMIA cards at the time. Oh well, I saved a little money too. Isnt there a USB version of Mach coming out?

[TheNigerian]

Originally Posted by abasir Here's one I've used and can recommend http://www.transdigital.net/

Abasir,

I have just replaced my laptop and purchased a pcmcia express card to go with it.

Vista detected the pcmcia card; mach3 is correctly installed and the controller's lights are on but I have been able to produce any movements by pressing any buttons on my laptop or running any wizards in mach3.

Do you have an idea of what I am doing wrong and/or am not doing at all please?

Are there any mach settings to be effected?

[keebler303]

Some laptops, notoriously the ones with Pentium M processors, will not work with mach at all. There is some special power management stuff to make the battery last longer which interferes with the real time control mach needs. I have a laptop with one of these processors and it will move the machine but it looks like its having a seizure the whole time. If you have a processor which does things similar to the pentium M, you are probably out of luck. Search the site for pentium m if you want to read everyone's experience with them.

Matt

[Halfnutz]

Mach3 does not support Vista

[ger21]

Originally Posted by Halfnutz Mach3 does not support Vista

Mach3 works fine under Vista, and has for about a year.

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/ind...ic,2385.0.html

[Halfnutz]

Originally Posted by ger21 Mach3 works fine under Vista, and has for about a year. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/ind...ic,2385.0.html

Well thats good to know, you learn something new everyday...