[squale]

some general questions about Mach3..

1.) what's the latest version?

2.) What's the best operating system to use with Mach3? can windows 98 be used? how about windows server 2003?

3.) What if my computer doesn't have a printer port? what can I do to make it work?

Thanks!

[ger21]

1) 3.041, unless you want to count the latest "testing only" versions.

2) Mach will only run on Win2K, XP, or Vista. Most use XP, but it should work fine on any of them.

3) Add a parallel port PCI card, or get a Smoothstepper or NcPod (both usb with Mach plugins)

[squale]

okay, can you tell me if you can use a Laptop with Mach3?

I have a laptop, Pentium 3, 1 ghz, 128mb ram and it has a printer port in it already. I'm running windows xp pro on it right now.

[123CNC]

from the artsoft website,

*You must use a Desktop PC if you are using the Mach3 Parallel Port Driver. Laptops are not supported because the power saving features of the chipsets disrupt the pulse stream. Mach3 will only be supported on laptops running an external motion controller, such as the G100 or SmoothStepper.*

[TOTALLYRC]

okay, can you tell me if you can use a Laptop with Mach3?

I have a laptop, Pentium 3, 1 ghz, 128mb ram and it has a printer port in it already. I'm running windows xp pro on it right now.

Some people have been able to use mach3 with a laptop but it depends on which laptop or chipset. Since you already have the laptop and it costs nothing to download the trial version and run the driver test, I would say what do you have to loose. If it doens't run the driver test well, go desktop.


Direct from the mach3 web site

"Mach3 Minimum Requirements:
Windows 2000/XP Operating System
1Ghz CPU
512MB RAM
Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM
Basic Computer Skills (ability to copy/rename files, browse directories, etc)
Desktop PC if using the Mach3 Driver (Laptops are not supported because the power saving features of the chipsets disrupt the pulse stream)"



The other option is to go to the local computer store and see what he has in the way of a used desktop. I just picked up a dell with a fresh install of winxp for $200. Has a cd drive, pport, usb and a 30 gig hd. More than enough to run Mach3. I use my vista laptop to do the development and program and cam with.


If there is a chapter of freecycle in your area, http://www.freecycle.org/ and you have to join up to see post, you could get a decent computer for free.
DSPMC/IP for motion control.

All that said, a smoothstepper or other motion control card will pay for itself in the long run.
From what I have read the pulse train is real smooth and of course you can use the laptop with out any worries.

[ger21]

okay, can you tell me if you can use a Laptop with Mach3?

I have a laptop, Pentium 3, 1 ghz, 128mb ram and it has a printer port in it already. I'm running windows xp pro on it right now.

Probably not enough memory, as XP Pro eats most of that 128MB.

[TOTALLYRC]

Probably not enough memory, as XP Pro eats most of that 128MB.

Hey GER21,
I agree completely with you about xp being a memory pig. That is why I quoted the specs from the Mach website. I probably should have said see if you can upgrade your memory to 512, if nothing else it will make it run better when doing anything.

Mike

[ger21]

It's not that bad, especially with 1 Gig of ram being $25. I mentioned that because I just did a clean install on a friends older Dell, with 256MB of ram. Clean install, with only Firefox on it. Then I installed AVG, and it became about 80% slower due to running out of memory.