This post is for informing others about the XHC USB Mach4 USB motion control board.
I bought a 1325 machine from China (Blue Elephant CNC - really pleased with it!).
I didnt want Mach3 as its old and who wants old software with a brand new machine?
They offered the XHC Mach4 board as there only option for supply with Mach4.
Yes it was a risk and i knew this (being a new board and also Mach4 being new too).
The XHC board is a nice layout with 24vdc ins and outs etc. It is advertised to be working with Mach4.
The catch is the board and its supplied plugins will ONLY run and work with the wxMach.exe Mach4 program and NOT the Mach4GUI.exe.
Under the Mach4GUI.exe Mach4 wont connect to the card and this means all your assigned inputs are on including e-stop. Nothing works.
As you all probably know this means you cant use this board and also edit your Mach4 screens to make Auto Tool Zero and Go to Zero etc work (can only edit screens under Mach4GUI.exe).
I have spoken to XHC and they keep saying the same thing. (Copy paste shortcut to wxmach.exe to desktop). This obviously doesnt fix the problem.
For reference this is the MK3-M4 Version: 5.10 usb board from XHC.
Apparently Artsoft have offered to give support for this range of USB card provided XHC provide some samples for the team to go over and test but unfortunately it doesnt look like XHC are willing to do this.
Anyway this is just some info for others who might have bought one or considering buying.
Admittedly the card actually works well for motion and running programs it just means you cant have a heap of functions that Mach4 offers such as the Auto Tool Zero by button.
If anyone has any info on things i could try or mod to get this working with Mach4GUI.exe it would be awesome.
I have used a heap of chinese parts in the past and have never been disappointed so i thought id give this card a go. I suppose the good times had to come to an end eventaully haha.
If i cant find an updated plugin or hack to get this working ill have to bin it and go for the PMDX usb maybe? Any recommendations for your fav boards?
Anyway hope this helps someone.