How about post processor? They M4 and M3 are the same?
Yes, what you say is true, I am not disputing that. What I am saying is that, in this case, simply buying an ess, smartbob, or pokeys and trying to use his config will not work. The reason: To ensure an easy and stress free install, the software is preconfigured to, and licensed thru the hardware in the box. So it is as painless as installing software and plugging in the box.
How about post processor? They M4 and M3 are the same?
<img src="https://ivxo1q-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mENMmTr_Cabc7pR0FUdB6gtbADq2JbuG4_rGy0eBQvLJx19pTi6TqMUIJN0xgOyDIc0gWoxYhS38HpbSTFGdfaK-o42IOU6jczrhDpfpCOTNGL1X6hvZCbgj0y35gqmq1YGTrWwShYGV-C7lXA2esy0Pi_WfnBSyroDLSGXwce4uSr1U7op7srdi78rispHCa_K4aFlTlJPVkkNWMfgh_Tg?width=60&height=60&cropmode=none" width="60" height="60" />
Being Disabled is OK CNC is For fuN
Thanks for this input RonGinger!
To summarize, I was able to find the PMDX-411 USB SmartBOB at PMDX.COM - Products for CNC and motion control applications. It looks really nice and seems like the simplest option.
Then I checked the Ethernet SmoothStepper and it is my impression you would need to wire the parallel connection from the IDC connectors, right?
Same would apply to the Polabs.com device which I am assuming is the PoKeys57CNC PoKeys57CNC Or is it the PoKeys56U or PoKeys57E?
Not certain that I will change my Tormach to M4, but my plasma cutter seems like it will eventually migrate to this venue.
I document my CNC Experience at CNC Dude's Youtube channel. Check it out!
The SmartBOB is very cool, and very simple to set up.
The ESS, yes each IDC connector is basically a parallel port. So you are exactly right.
The pokeys, seems confusing at first. The 56U/57E are great devices, but for machine control really need a motherboard to give them a bit of a processor boost, see the CNC Addon board. CNC4PC also makes a couple good ones. Recently Polabs launched the 57CNC, which is basically a USB/Ethernet Pokeys and CNC Addon board all in one board.
If you are running Mach3 still, I would urge you to atleast download and try 4. It is soo much better, not even the same software...
I have set up a big router running a ESS and a MB06 v2 bob it runs 10 x better than M3 with the added of macro b there's a hell of a lot of thing you can do with M4 that M3 cant do.
and it`s so much more smooth than M3 and some thing happen in a instant unlike the delays that happen with M3 freehold, softlimits and tool change are something that you don't have to worry about anymore
I also have done a small router with darwin and a G540 its so so much better
<img src="https://ivxo1q-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mENMmTr_Cabc7pR0FUdB6gtbADq2JbuG4_rGy0eBQvLJx19pTi6TqMUIJN0xgOyDIc0gWoxYhS38HpbSTFGdfaK-o42IOU6jczrhDpfpCOTNGL1X6hvZCbgj0y35gqmq1YGTrWwShYGV-C7lXA2esy0Pi_WfnBSyroDLSGXwce4uSr1U7op7srdi78rispHCa_K4aFlTlJPVkkNWMfgh_Tg?width=60&height=60&cropmode=none" width="60" height="60" />
Being Disabled is OK CNC is For fuN
Duracoat,
How did you do the config? I can't even find the .XML file for my Tormach M3
Entropy Sucks
write down all the port and pins and speed and feeds, Axis set up that sort of stuff the .xml should be in c/tormach
<img src="https://ivxo1q-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mENMmTr_Cabc7pR0FUdB6gtbADq2JbuG4_rGy0eBQvLJx19pTi6TqMUIJN0xgOyDIc0gWoxYhS38HpbSTFGdfaK-o42IOU6jczrhDpfpCOTNGL1X6hvZCbgj0y35gqmq1YGTrWwShYGV-C7lXA2esy0Pi_WfnBSyroDLSGXwce4uSr1U7op7srdi78rispHCa_K4aFlTlJPVkkNWMfgh_Tg?width=60&height=60&cropmode=none" width="60" height="60" />
Being Disabled is OK CNC is For fuN
The XML is in the mach3 root folder. The name can change depending on the version of the Tormach software you are running. You can sort that folder by file type and it should show up near the bottom.
As an update, we've been running the Op's machine for a while now, nailing down some instabilities. The tool changer was causing some problems. Hoping to have that locked up very soon.
Thanks guys,
No tool changer here, just the PDB, so that's one less problem. I'd wanted to go with the box that Element has on their website, (Tormach Mach4 Conversion Kit — Element), but when I went to buy it the unit was unavailable. Tonight I'll go searching for the .xml file. One more question, will M4 run in Linux? I don't want to mess with my Tormach controller b/c it's functional, albeit with a few quirks, and my only other available computer has Path Pilot installed. I'd be willing to run Pilot if it weren't for it's propensity to get confused when G54,55,& 56 are in the same program. Tormach's M3 has no issue there. I could, of course, re-write my programs with all the "Z" dimensions referenced from a common level. That would be a PITA, but doable and probably less of a PITA than messing about with a Kludge to run M4. I have an order for ten pieces that have to go out NLT tomorrow a.m., and they run in about one hour each.
Entropy Sucks
Yes, our box will be available soon. We want to make sure it is as reliable and easy to install as possible. The screen has a couple bugs in the probing and tool/work offset tabs. And like I said, the tool changer has some reliability problems. We want to release the box as soon as possible and are working hard to do so. We have boxes ready to go, just making sure the software to go with them is good as well.
Mach4 is designed to be run cross platform, so eventually it should be able to run on linux, but currently there is not a release for that.
You can install and run Mach4 on your Mach3 Tormach controller, it will not affect the Mach3 install at all. Our test machine has a Tormach computer with both Mach3 and 4 installed, both work fine.
Love tight deadlines! Sorry we can't help you with your parts now, hopefully in the future!
Hello, can I use the pokeys57cnc for plasma CNC ?! Can I wire the THC (miniTHC from Russia) to the DB-25 connection on pokeys57cnc ?!
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Recommend you post this to the plasma cnc group. Won't get as much help here.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/plasma...e-project-log/
Tim
Tormach 1100-3 mill, Grizzly G0709 lathe, PM935 mill, SolidWorks, HSMWorks.
I recently switched my CSMIO from Mach 3 to Mach 4 on the Bridgeport Apollo I retroed.
Much better motion profiles on corners and bores.
And best of all no more crashes. Mach 3 would occasionally crash for no particular reason.
Dang, I have run my 1100 with Mach III for 6 1/2 years and “never” had a glitch. And I get into some pretty technical stuff. I don’t cut steel on my machine but I cut a lot of 718 Inconel and 6AL-4V titanium.
When I had my shop I used to solicit exotic material jobs because no one wanted to do it.
I spent the time and the money to learn how to cut the exotics and I actually did pretty well with it.