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I am just getting into this CNC thing and was looking to run my machine (DIY router) with MACH 3 and wanted to do my CAD CAM with fusion 360.
The problem I have just discovered is this. The machine requirements for Fusion 360 say windows 64 bit operating systems only and the machine
requirements for MACH 3 say windows 32 bit operating systems only. I wanted to run these both on the same machine.
Am I understanding this issue correctly? I CANNOT run both of these on the same machine?
Thanks
Yes, Fusion 360 is 64 bit only.
Mach3 is 32 bit only, IF you are using the parallel port. If you use a motion controller with Mach3, then you can use Mach3 on a 64 bit OS as well.
OkQuote:
Originally Posted by ger21
I have heard the term motion controller but not sure what it is or how to use it
Thanks
Some examples are the Smoothstepper, or UC100 and UC300ETH.
Mach3 sends low level commands to the motion controller, and the motion controller generates the step pulses, instead of the software through the parallel port. Motion controllers connect to the PC with either USB or ethernet cables.
so, I can run fusion 360 and mach3 or UCCNC on the same machine as long as I use a USB or ETH motion control board like the smoothstepper or UCC300eth. What would the minimum requirements be for a machine to run all of them?
Is there a reason not to run CAD/CAM software and mach3 or uccnc on the same machine?
Thanks
Yes. Whatever Fusion 360's requirements are, would be good enough for anything else.Quote:
so, I can run fusion 360 and mach3 or UCCNC on the same machine as long as I use a USB or ETH motion control board like the smoothstepper or UCC300eth.
You don't want any other software interfering with your machine control software while the machine is running. If Fusion 360 suddenly requires 100% of the CPU for a few seconds while the machine is running, chances are that the machine will stop, possibly ruining the work. Even though the motion controller is generating the step pulses, the software is still sending data to the motion controller at the same time.Quote:
Is there a reason not to run CAD/CAM software and mach3 or uccnc on the same machine?
It's OK to use the same PC, but be careful if you try doing other things while the machine is running.
So, most folks have a dedicated machine to run Mach3 or whatever and a different machine for CAD/CAM. I get it.
Thanks
On my W7 x64 machine with ESS I have rather successfully used Fusion while machining for some time. Rather than printing setup sheets or notes I just pull the CAM up. I also revise CAM for parts that are running as I see defects in the process. That way at the end of the run I already have updated code for the next run. Ive occasionally modeled parts while the machine runs as well, again without issue. Mach occasionally hiccups, but I get those same hiccups whether Fusion is running or not. I also usually run a browser, Excel (where I keep my tooling notes), and listen to music, while Mach is running. I do have plenty of RAM, i5 CPU, and a decent GPU. I'm not recommending everybody tries this, but with my hardware in my machining environment it's been good. Does this mean you could run two controllers? I have no idea. I have installed the demo of UCNC a number of times and am curious to try it, I just don't know that it has the feature set I want and given that I'd have to buy another controller all together it could be a while before I try it out. And until I try it out it's hard to say how hardware intensive it is.
Quick Edit - I'll say this, I do the majority of my CAD/CAM on another machine simply because sitting in front of my controller for hours on end wouldn't be any fun, but I think it would be pretty easy to one use machine for both if you were using a decent lap top as a controller.