[airbrush]

Hello,
I am just getting into CNC with a small machine that I am hoping to have up and running in a few months. I bought a separate PC system to run all of my CAM(recommend 64bit system) and CONTROL SOFTWARE with a parallel port to (gecko G540) only to just now realize that i have windows 7(64 bit) running on it. Apparently 64bit will not work with Mach3.

So after some searching i see that people mention a separate motion controller(usb) to overcome this which is unfortuate...seems like just another thing to complicate the whole process.

I've come across this
USB MOTION CONTROLLER for Mach3, UC100 | Automation Technology Inc

Just wondering what you recommend to work around this??

If Mach 4 is coming out shortly (this summer?) does it have 64 bit OS support to run off parallel port???
If so, then I would just wait until the new version is out.

Please advise,

Jeff

[ger21]

No, Mach4 will not support the parallel port on a 64bit OS. 64 bit versions of Windows will not allow it.

The UC100 seems to be very popular, and is probably the cheapest option to use Mach3 on a 64bit PC. There are similarly priced Chinese motion controllers on Ebay as well. For basic needs, the Pokeys may also be an option, and it adds lots of I/O.

[airbrush]

just curious how friendly these are to use? I can just plug this directly into my gecko g540 from the pc/usb?

-trying to wrap my head around all of this stuff....from actually getting the machine in working order...to finding a cam package(decided on now)...to control software and now figuring out how to get all of it working together....

[airbrush]

No, Mach4 will not support the parallel port on a 64bit OS. 64 bit versions of Windows will not allow it.

The UC100 seems to be very popular, and is probably the cheapest option to use Mach3 on a 64bit PC. There are similarly priced Chinese motion controllers on Ebay as well. For basic needs, the Pokeys may also be an option, and it adds lots of I/O.

So even if the new version of Mach comes out I would still need an external motion controller in order to hook up to the gecko driver....

[ger21]

So even if the new version of Mach comes out I would still need an external motion controller in order to hook up to the gecko driver....

Yes, if you're using a 64 bit OS.

And yes, you just plug the G540 into the motion controller instead of a parallel port. They work very similarly.

[airbrush]

ok...one more thing to add to list....

[punisher454]

Mach 4 has been coming soon for several years.