[dewayne]

Can anyone tell me if the serial DeskCNC 2nd generation board will work with Mach2? I am building the CADCut Router 4x8 and am beginning to look into what controller, software etc. Any suggestions of a good marriage would be helpfull.

DeWayne Young (UK)

[ger21]

NO, it won't. It only works with the DeskCNC software.

[imserv]

Can anyone tell me if the serial DeskCNC 2nd generation board will work with Mach2?

The DeskCNC controller board includes software for machine control and for CAM programming. No other machine controller software is needed.

Fred Smith - IMService
http://www.cadcamcadcam.com

[weberluk]

I found the Adaptor - USB to RS232 Serial Adapter from cadcamcadcam homepage. At now I am using the compaq notebook, but I don't got the parallel port and just got USB port only. Did it really support the DeskCNC board and software. I would like to hearing yours help. Thank you very much.

[weberluk]

I am a beginner and would like to choose DeskCNC, but I don't know how to setting the router working area and Axis. Is it easy to setup or need some of program knowledge or like as same about used Mach2 type? I feel some of difficult at first. On the other hand, when I saw another controller forums, discovered too many problem from them. I am afraid I don't know anything from DIY CNC before. If poosible, can you help me? Because was the selling prices and software function very nice and I like it. I am looking forward to hearing for yours reply soon. Thak you.

[imserv]

The setup procedure is on-line:

How to set up DeskCNC

Fred Smith - IMService
http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/hobby

[weberluk]

I believe this is very usefully information as well as thank you very much. I forget ask one question? It's relate about power input from DeskCNC with Controller Card. Did it support 220 Voltage power or not need of used transformer? Because was Hong Kong used 220V. Thanks a lot.

[Kookaburra]

A 12V plug pack into your 220V power sustem is all you need to run the controller board.

[weberluk]

Really thank you.

Weber Luk

[smparkinson]

I just purchased a cnc router from moosecreeksales on ebay.( it'sitem number 320109204739 if you care to look at the listing), and the machine's maker suggest's using MACH3 software. However, I'm new to cnc (my only experience is with engravers and their software) and I got a copy of EASYCNC which suggest's DeskCNC as the best software for beginners. Even though it cost's about $100. more than Mach3, from the demo's it looks like DeskCNC is a lot more intuitive and less intimidating for me.
My question is this: can I use DeskCNC with whatever kind of control board will be comming with my router, or am I going to be pulling my hair out trying to make it work. We all know that nothing boost's one's confidence like having some success in the begining of using new equipment. Any help or thoughts would be welcome, and I thank you in advance.
PS-as an alternative, I would consider getting DeskCNC bundled with their board (and probably the USB adaptor) if it would get me up and running with better and easier results. Thanks!

[ger21]

Mach3 sends step and direction signals through the parallel port, but DeskCNC sends the step/dir signals from their board, so it's required, and makes DeskCNC about $200 more than Mach3. There are also 2 very good Mach Support groups, and thousands of users that help out.

[smparkinson]

Do you mean that Mach3 uses no controler board? If so, what do the steppers connect to? And does this mean that DeskCNC actually requires 2 boards, the controler my system comes with and additionally requires their own proprietary board? Pardon my ignorance, but I'm trying to get a handle on this stuff.
Thanks!

[ger21]

The steppers connect to driver boards. The deskCNC needs their controller board plus the stepper drives, while Mach3 only needs the stepper drives.

[Jimilo]

I just purchased a cnc router from moosecreeksales on ebay.( it'sitem number 320109204739 if you care to look at the listing), and the machine's maker suggest's using MACH3 software. However, I'm new to cnc (my only experience is with engravers and their software) and I got a copy of EASYCNC which suggest's DeskCNC as the best software for beginners. Even though it cost's about $100. more than Mach3, from the demo's it looks like DeskCNC is a lot more intuitive and less intimidating for me.
My question is this: can I use DeskCNC with whatever kind of control board will be comming with my router, or am I going to be pulling my hair out trying to make it work. We all know that nothing boost's one's confidence like having some success in the begining of using new equipment. Any help or thoughts would be welcome, and I thank you in advance.
PS-as an alternative, I would consider getting DeskCNC bundled with their board (and probably the USB adaptor) if it would get me up and running with better and easier results. Thanks!

Sam... Im intrested in the system from moosecreek. I just saw that you purchased one. can you pease tell me what you think of the machine.

[David Da Costa]

I have a DeskCNC controller box from http://www.cadcamcadcam.com that came with their CNC router that I bought from them.

I would really like to use it with Mach3 and know that they now offer a USB version which uses ncPod which I also have one hanging around.

Can anyone give me some idea of what I would need to do to convert the serial controller to use ncPod and work with Mach3?

Thanks


David

[wmgeorge]

I just purchased a cnc router from moosecreeksales on ebay.( it'sitem number 320109204739 if you care to look at the listing), and the machine's maker suggest's using MACH3 software. However, I'm new to cnc (my only experience is with engravers and their software) and I got a copy of EASYCNC which suggest's DeskCNC as the best software for beginners. Even though it cost's about $100. more than Mach3, from the demo's it looks like DeskCNC is a lot more intuitive and less intimidating for me.
My question is this: can I use DeskCNC with whatever kind of control board will be comming with my router, or am I going to be pulling my hair out trying to make it work. We all know that nothing boost's one's confidence like having some success in the begining of using new equipment. Any help or thoughts would be welcome, and I thank you in advance.
PS-as an alternative, I would consider getting DeskCNC bundled with their board (and probably the USB adaptor) if it would get me up and running with better and easier results. Thanks!

The short answer is no. The reason is that the machine comes with a controller card (I hope) that is set up to use Mach 2 or 3, which uses your computer parallel port. It would be more cost effective for you just to stay with what is already installed. Now the fun part, if you can't find a computer with a parallel port, now you need to add a parallel card adapter to your computer. Or buy, if they exist a USB to parallel adapter.

If you don't have a controller in the machine, I have and use DeskCNC on my router, runs off a serial port or a USB to serial adapter. I like DeskCNC and it runs my machine just fine. Good Luck.