USB to Parallel Converter - Parallels are OBSOLETE

[bill south]

Wow, was I surprised at my local Best Buy Today!!!!
My old control computer running Mach 3 finally expired yesterday (RIP) and I was going to bite the dust today and replace it with a new (low cost) Gateway, HP or Compaq. Anyway, I selected the system all and noticed on the specificaiton sheet "parallel port = 0". Shore enuf, I flipped it around and nutten but USB. My friendly clerk almost convinced me to purchas it and a $35 USP to parallel converter but the connector was the old centronics type which would have been yet another converter.
Anyway, I got to thinking about it and said the magic words to the clerk helping me!! "I'll be Back".
Has anyone used a USB to parallel converter with mach 3???? And, is anyone using a gateway notebook for a control system.
Thanks in advance.
Bill

[monte55]

I'm ready to get my drivers and a new computer. I would really like to use a laptop for my cnc table. I hear you need a parallel port and can't use adapters.
I hope we can get some good answers here

[abasir]

As mentioned in previous threads... normal USB-to-parallel port converter cannot be used. It won't work. Search the site for more info.

For notebooks, the option is to get PCMCIA-based parallel port.
For desktops, use add-on card for the parallel port.

[Torchhead]

1. Because the pulse stream from the parallel port is time dependant and USB is a serial protocol that is not, the USB to parallel port adapters DO NOT WORK for use with MACH.

2. Laptops are poor choices for CNC and shop environments. If you could get around the no parallel port problem you will find that you can't just replace the keyboard on a laptop for 9 bucks when it gets grunge under the keys. The chances of getting it splashed, damaged, or worse are much greater. In my shop with plasma dust and pieces of steel flaoting around I doubt a laptop would last a week.

3. Laptops have different buss structures that desktops and ususally the video RAM is shared (Bad for MACH use) and you can't disable the video and pop in a cheap discrete video card


4. I JUST bought a BoStar 2.4G Motherboard from Newegg and 256M or DDR RAM for a combined total of less than 100.00. It had a parallel port, a real serial port, built in ethernet (LAN) and USB to boot. Since you don't need honkin' big harddrives or CD burners or stereo speakers, 400W power supplies or anything els

3. Since the PC that drives the CNC should be considered a dedicated machine (It's only job is to run the machine and maybe talk with something via ethernet) a standard workstation squirrled away and protected makes more sense. Unless your machine is portable then I don't think your computer needs to be.

While it's easy to add a real parallel port card (you can even get dual parallel port cards) you need at least one PCI slot. We buy dozens of PCI port cards monthly (retail less than $20.00) because we sell a Dual Port Interface product that uses the second port as a pendant input with a real MPG.

Hope this answers the questions.

Tom Caudle
www.CandCNC.com

[Torchhead]

I just posted a nice long answer and all the reasons for not using USB with MACH and why laptops are bad choices for a CNC controller but the post just hung and never went through. If this one makes it then I'll give it another shot. (grrrrr....)

[bill south]

Thanks Tom;
The information you shared is just what I thought. We mach users are going to be in a bit of a pickle when our equipment needs upgrading. The laptop vs. desktop argument was top notch and convinced me. Guess I'll visit newegg and purchase a mother board and memory stick as you did. Makes more sense for what we need.
Thanks again. You were quite helpful.
Bill

[ger21]

Even though most off the shelf PC's don't have parallel ports, there are a LOT of good quality motherboards available with parallel ports. And PCI slots which allow you to add more parallel ports if needed.

However, Art is supposed to be recieving the new DeskCNC USB pulse generator very soon, and will be writing a plugin for Mach3 to use it to generate step pulses. I'm guessing it should be around $150, and will eliminate the need for the parallel port, and at a reasonable price, too. Provided all goes asplanned, of course.

[pminmo]

Hey, look at the upside. Lots of old used free/cheap PC's with LPT ports nobody wants that can be used! At least for awhile...

[Halfnutz]

I finally got my 1GHZ Dell laptop to run Mach3 and I am so happy. I bought it specifically for running Mach3. Not at the machine all the time but for occasional use. I love it. It's great for debugging, but I would not use it as a dedicated controller. I am just glad I got one of the last ones with a parallel port. Desktop machines are too inexpensive to not use one as a dedicated controller, but its great being able to use the laptop as a development tool.

[pp-TG]

Originally Posted by bill south Wow, was I surprised at my local Best Buy Today!!!! My old control computer running Mach 3 finally expired yesterday (RIP) and I was going to bite the dust today and replace it with a new (low cost) Gateway, HP or Compaq. Anyway, I selected the system all and noticed on the specificaiton sheet "parallel port = 0". Shore enuf, I flipped it around and nutten but USB. My friendly clerk almost convinced me to purchas it and a $35 USP to parallel converter but the connector was the old centronics type which would have been yet another converter. Anyway, I got to thinking about it and said the magic words to the clerk helping me!! "I'll be Back". Has anyone used a USB to parallel converter with mach 3???? And, is anyone using a gateway notebook for a control system. Thanks in advance. Bill

At the last place I worked at we had the same problem the cheapest fix i found was a PDA, you can get one with all the software and cables for prety cheap...check out www.shopfloorautomations.com (they work great!).

[BCwanderer]

Try http://www.tigerdirect.com
They have refurbished E-machines (tower) with parallel ports for $239
with Win Xp and Sempron 3300

They have periodic sales with rebates of up to $100
I was able to buy one for less than $200 CAN in September

Their sales change regularly.

[unterhaus]

I think all of the bare motherboards I have looked at recently have had parallel ports. It suprised me a little because it's very hard to buy a parallel printer nowadays. You are just going to have to build a system. The Siig PCI parallel port boards are pretty cheap, and they are also a good option. PCI will outlast the parallel port, I believe. Although I suspect that PCI-X cards will become pretty cheap as well.