Originally Posted by
GME
HH,
I haven't heard of CandCNC before. Wow, are their electronics prices high. CNCRouter parts has a Nema 23 plug & play box for $1,545 that's in wide use with service that's second to none. It's a shame a business can charge as much as these folks do and provide no service at all. Since your system is 10 years old, maybe it's time to think about replacing the electronics with something more up to date?
If you are using Mach3, In guessing that it's just their propriety XML file. If so, you could probably replace it with a generic one, like one on CNCRP's site. I'd reach out on the zone, explain your electronics situation, and see if anyone else has modified their systems. Since it's been 10 years, there are bound to be folks with some knowledge about it.
I'm sorry that I can't help on the electronics front. I built my own box using the PMDX 126 main board, PMDX 107 spindle control and Warp9 ESS smoothstepper, which connects to the computer with a standard network connection. I also upgraded from Mach3 to Mach4, which has been a delight. It is light years ahead of Mach3 and you can get most any question answered on the Mach forum. For me, the upgrade was easy, but I know of some folks who have had difficulty. Mostly, it was just a matter of not following the excellent setup directions Warp9 puts out. Warp9 has a big interest in Mach4, because most of the setup is done in the Smoothstepper plugin for Mach4.
A lot of other folks like UCCNC's electronics and control software. I've never used it, but it has a good following. There is also Acorn. It also has its followers and also detractors. I wouldn't buy it, because it is limited to 4 axes. In my book, that takes upgrading to a rotary axis off the table.
FWIW, I am also a Vectric user. I am using the latest version of Aspire and love it. I also use Fusion 360 (CAD & CAM packaged) (free to the hobbist; a kings ransom for businesses), but its learning curve can be brutal. It's full 3d design software. I guess if I had to say which I use more, it's about 60/40 in favor of Aspire. Fusion does some things better, while Aspire does other things better. You can't beat Vetric products for V carving and sign making.
Gary