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I noticed the Avid has recently stopped selling mach3 and added mach4 as a replacement. Has anyone on here switched over? Im also trying to research using my atc with it but nothing has come up yet, any help on that would greatly be appreciated. Is there a way to use my current m6 macro with mach 4?
A few people here have switched.
You'll need a completely newM6 macro, as Mach4 uses Lua for macros, rather than VB like Mach3 does.
I have know idea what your M6 Macro is but I changed over a few months back, and I had the Plug & Plug Avid control panel and did it kind of winging it, the Warp 9 ESS website is a big help. I love Mach4 glad I switched the machine has never ran better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerojunkie
I am running the stock one from cncdepot he made for mach 3. When I bought the router mach 4 was still iffy on compatibility, but now I think its time to upgrade. Mach 3 has been working ok, but I have been playing with the demo of mach 4 and I like it. Right now the only thing holding me back is getting the atc working, Im spoiled to it for running cabinet parts. Never wrote a program or macro before but I guess Im about to get a crash course in it.
You might check on the Mach3/4 Forum not CNCZone but the official support forum someone might have already done so. Ger21 Is also a top notch programmer, he might have one for you already done and cheaper than paying someone else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerojunkie
Sorry, but I've never done any Mach4 programming.
Try here > https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?board=94.0Quote:
Originally Posted by wmgeorge
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Try here > https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?board=94.0Quote:
Originally Posted by wmgeorge
I've switched and I have yet to find a benefit in switching. I switched because my unit is only a couple months old and Avid is helping me troubleshoot some THC issues. They wanted to rule out Mach3. According to Avid, Mach 4 works better with Plasma.
Mach3 has a couple of gotca things going on and sometimes unexplained dives, you may not have had those issues. Mach4 is much smoother in operation and professional.Quote:
Originally Posted by DHaughs
The biggest differences I have found that affect me are on the plasma side. Significant upgrades for THC. But I haven't found any issues with Mach3 for the spindle. Keep in mind my point of reference is coming from a $2k hobby grade machine using a trim router :)Quote:
Originally Posted by wmgeorge
You've had unexplained dives in Mach3 with your spindle/router?
It turns out in M3 if you just STOP like in you want to start over, the buffer is not flushed out. When you restart, even after a re-zero it still starts to run that gcode buffer out. Yes there is a way to clear out that buffer.... but you need to remember. Mach4 seems to do for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by DHaughs
That's probably an ESS issue, rather than Mach3.
Interesting. I haven't seen that. Could be because I generally reload the gcode when I want to start over. I've actually had some funny business in Mach4 with this and my plasma torch firing. I've stopped programs or had an e-stop (battling through some interference issues) then I've clicked the "rewind g-code" button and then my torch will fire a second or two after. But if I close the gcode and load it again I don't have this issue. I haven't done much routing in Mach4.Quote:
Originally Posted by wmgeorge
If your using Warp9 ESS I may be wrong but I think they just released a new THC module or plug in. Mach3 did the dive two times on me before I figured it out. You Stop the program and decide to Restart after re-zeroing and bingo it buries your router bit in the spoil board and I don't think its an ESS thing because Mach4 works just fine after I do the Restart.
I've never seen that in 10+ years of using Mach3, with the parallel port.
It's not the ESS itself, but rather the plugin, and it's interaction with Mach3.
I'm not the only one with this reported issue, all have been Mach3 users, never M4.Quote:
Originally Posted by DHaughs
So now I have two reminders, holes burnt/milled into my spoil board to remind me.