Newbie- MACH3 INSTALLATION

[EKFER]

Hi! I'm building a cnc machine but I'm still 3 months away from completing all the parts. I'm planning to get the Gecko G540 kit from CNCParts.com which comes with the cables ready. I got a desktop with 2.4 gigs, 1 gig memory, dedicated video card with 64 megs, one 30 gigs hard drive with Microsoft Windows XP and another 40 gigs drive clean.
When should I install Mach3? I'll appreciate your input, Thank you

[UUU]

I'd install it right now. You can play with it before it's connected to the machine.

[Mueller]

Install it right now and run the driver test to ensure that Mach3 plays nice with your computer, if it checks out okay, you can play with the settings, and run programs to learn everything.

[restless1]

you might want to look into a smoothstepper also

[EKFER]

I FOLLOWED YOUR ADVISE. IT WORKS FINE IN THE DEDICATED COMPUTER. WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT REPLIES.

[zool]

Don't assume a pretty screen means appropriate functionality.

Wire up your controller board and stepper motors and see how they work when connected to MACH3. Make sure the steppers turn the right what when you jog the axes around.

Run a g-code program .. the road runner one included with MACH for instance. Watch and see what the steppers do.

Use your CAD program to make a simple object, say a square. Then convert the file to G-code with your conversion program. Then run that on MACH to see how it works.

Also learn how to read g-code, best way being to write a simple one manually.

Look into other controller programs. There are some fine programs out there. First one that comes to mind is EMC2 which is free and is LINUX based. EMC2 and LINUX are easier to learn than many put on. LINUX opens up a number of software opportunities not available with Windows. TURBO CNC is a low cost controller program that has just gotten a Windows GUI. It is reputed to be suite stable. FlashCut CNC is another which is a combination of software and hardware [the controller]. Their new Compact version is a good deal considering the quality of the software and hardware; its a competitor to Smooth Stepper. The manuals for both the software and the hardware are simple and to the point. Support is excellent.

Look though the various forums under Machine Controllers Software and Solutions ..where you found this one actually.

[davy182]

Mach3 should work great for you. I have been working with for a while and love the flexibility of it.

[zool]

Originally Posted by davy182 Mach3 should work great for you. I have been working with for a while and love the flexibility of it.

I have two CNC routers.

The first one, run with ball screws, runs MACH3, and though it was difficult setting it up it has functioned well except for an occasional crash. I now use uninterrupted power supplies and no longer have any problems with crashes. My studio is in an industrial complex with three phase power and there have been some unexplained power problems.

The second one, a rack-and-pinion machine, after three weeks I have yet to get MACH3 to operate properly. The problem is consistent and persistent. A controller board mysterious quit functioning in the process of testing configurations. Even the expert help of Ger21 has not alleviated the problem.

My suggestions are based on the fact there are alternatives to MACH3, and should be explored. Relying on the experience of others, though valuable, only provide a starting point not the only way.

[wildwestpat]

Yes I too have had problems with Mach3 but these were due to Windows not Mach3. The mother boards graphic chip is one source of problem and there is a load of advice on what to avoid. The power saving must be disabled both in the BIOS and Windows. IMOH the PC should be dedicated to Mach3 and not have internet connection. I have not gone as far as building the Mother board into the control box but when the source of cheap desk tops dries up this is the way to go. It is highly unlikely parallel port basic mother boards will evaporate with their multiple extension sockets as they are used in a lot of industrial processes and are well supported by a whole legion of exotic interface boards which need direct access to the PC bus. The parallel printer port has all but vanished from commercial desk top machine.

Load Mach3 and keep separate config files so that you can experiment with settings as you build your machine.

Good luck Regards - Pat

[restless1]

the version of mach3 and the plugin versions also make a difference..
i found this out with my smooth-stepper and its ability to show a tach input reading reliably!

[zool]

wildwestpat stated:

1.The mother boards graphic chip is one source of problem and there is a load of advice on what to avoid.

Correct. The MACH instructions indicate that a graphics card is necessary. This takes all the graphics regeneration of the various screens on MACH off the CPU, which makes timing more dependable.

2.The power saving must be disabled both in the BIOS and Windows.

Correct.

Also in Windows XP [and no doubt later versions of Windows as well]: Go to START>System>Advanced

Then in Performance>Settings>Visual Effects set this to: Adjust for best performance

Then in Performance>Settings>Advanced set Processor Scheduling and Memory Usage to Programs.

It will be obvious what to do when you get there.


3. IMOH the PC should be dedicated to Mach3 and not have internet connection.

Absolutely correct.

Even remove any antivirus programs after you have downloaded what is needed from the internet. They run in the background and can take up processor capacity, and usually at the wrong time too!

As well, remove anything from Adobe, especially Adobe Reader as it "calls home" all the time, and will at the absolute wrong time! If you need a PDF reader to look at program instructions and such use Sumatra. Free PDF Reader - Sumatra PDF by Krzysztof Kowalczyk

Also, use a UPS [uninterpretable power supply] with your computer and the controller board. This will clean up the power [remove voltage droops and spikes, and line noise] and keep the voltage constant because it converts the power from AC to DC [the internal battery] and back to AC with a voltage inverter. Some indicate that hooking the controller power supply to the UPS is not necessary, but hey why not out of an abundance of caution [lessen potential damage by voltage spikes].