Mach3 upgrade

X-Carve
1

I need to know exactly what is needed to upgrade to Mach3 software… i.e. hardware, price, brands

2

then search for it

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3

thanks for the help…

4

There’s no “right” answer here. There’s multiple options to go to MACH3. There is no exact prescription.

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6

exactly.

and look for a geckodrive, best value-for money out there afaik.

7

First place to start.

  1. You need a computer with a DB25 printer port $?
    Or a Uc100. Around $150
  2. A design program to produce Gcode. Easel will no longer work for you. $50-$10000000000
  3. A license for Mach3. $175

Then you have a billion different options as far as controller set up. Best choice is a Gecko G540. Around $275
Then you need wire, a box to install it all in and a bunch of other nick knacks to get the hardware together.

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Thanks Curtis !!!

9

Hi, I’m new to the forum. After buying the X controller, I found it didn’t work with Mach3 at all.
I went online found a usb to Mach
3 controller board on Amazon for around $40 and at a company called Zyltech got TB6600 stepper motor drivers and built a very nice controller. the wiring is very straight forward. Don’t use the Mach3 download that comes with the board.
Hope this helps Jim

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The copies that come with these type of boards are usually not a legitimate copy of the software. If you don’t have a license to paste into the main folder you will only get limited capabilities with the software.

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Mach3 isn’t designed to use with a GRBL controller. If you have a controller that uses a parallel port then there is an adapter called UC100. I use it with my usb laptop on another machine with a different controller.

https://www.amazon.com/CNCdrive-UC100-Parallel-Motion-Controller/dp/B00TPBGXII

This still won’t make it work with GRBL though. You need a license to make full use of Mach3, as the download only works up to 500 lines of code ( at least that’s what it used to stop at).

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A geckodrive is also a dream match if you want to work with mach3. Costs about the same as the xcontroller. Just remember you need a parallel port on your pc, or else you will need additional hardware.

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the Javibox.com was also just released as a Mach 3 based plug and play controller. incase you dont want to deal with wiring and such. You can get it with or without motors