Hello group, I am looking for some assistance with a self-assembled CNC Knee mill. I used the PC the other night for another ethernet machine application, when I switched back to the ESS we weren’t communicating. So, I downloaded new plugin, which required a Mach update. Now we are getting communication, limit switches work, eStop works, but no spindle or motors. The ClearPath motor are looking for a motor Enable signal which is on Port1, Pin 3. If I set this to active low in the ESS, it will activate them and we can run the machine, but the spindle relays don’t work. Can someone explain how Mach4 toggles the Motor #0 enable signal on and off? Is there a setting in the new ESS plugin we are missing? ? We are using Mach4 ver. 5036, Ethernet Smooth Stepper ver.289, PMDX 126 BOB, and ClearPath hybrid servos.  
? Thank-you! Brian Martin 
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
When first setting up my milling machine I dual booted my PC between WIN-XP and LinuxCNC.? Tested things with both Linux and the PC using either the parallel port or the USB SmoothStepper which I borrowed from my CNC router running… you guessed it WIN-XP. Eventually I went with LinuxCNC since the MESA 7i92H with Linux gave me more possibilities with CAN bus networking. ? In both cases, the CNC router and Mill I’m using the PMDX-125 on the router and PMDX-126 on the mill.??? The PMDX-125/6 has a nice clean interface into the SmoothSteppers. ? I was finally forced into WIN-10 last spring but given a choice I’d still use it rather than WIN-10.?? So I agree with the other replies on this subject.? ? No real need to run WIN-10. John ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tony Smith
Sent: November 26, 2023 8:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.? XP may be obsolete, but it was working just fine before your old PC died.? If you’re only going to run Mach3 on the new one (and you should be) what exactly is Win10 going to give you? ? I run Win7 & Mach3 on an old Dell, works fine.? I don’t use that machine for anything else. ? Tony ? ? Hey Steve, if I go the route of the ucc-100 dongle, is there any other changes I need to make or be aware of. I’m loudly like to stay with windows 10 if possible, just for the fact XP & 7 are obsolete already & 10 have a little more support left in it. I found this on amazon… Attachments:
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
All cnc should be isolated and used for cnc only. I'm an auto service tech by day. I see other shops jacking up there alignment machines all the time due to running them on a network to play games or whatever. Dumb. Leave these pcs dedicated
for there intended use only. Cnc no different. Win xp works great as a dedicated controller. I have several machines running mach 3 for many years.?
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I agree with Tony on this one. Two machines one on XP and the other on W7. Not connected to anything else.
Steve
On Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM CST, Tony Smith <ajsmith1968@...> wrote:
XP may be obsolete, but it was working just fine before your old PC died.? If you’re only going to run Mach3 on the new one (and you should be) what exactly is Win10 going to give you?
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I run Win7 & Mach3 on an old Dell, works fine.? I don’t use that machine for anything else.
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Tony
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Hey Steve, if I go the route of the ucc-100 dongle, is there any other changes I need to make or be aware of. I’m loudly like to stay with windows 10 if possible, just for the fact XP & 7 are obsolete already &
10 have a little more support left in it. I found this on amazon…![]()
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
I agree with Tony on this one. Two machines one on XP and the other on W7. Not connected to anything else.
Steve
On Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 10:36:42 PM CST, Tony Smith <ajsmith1968@...> wrote:
XP may be obsolete, but it was working just fine before your old PC died.? If you’re only going to run Mach3 on the new one (and you should be) what exactly is Win10 going to give you? ? I run Win7 & Mach3 on an old Dell, works fine.? I don’t use that machine for anything else. ? Tony ?
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jim Neilson via groups.io
Sent: Monday, 27 November 2023 10:05 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10. ? Hey Steve, if I go the route of the ucc-100 dongle, is there any other changes I need to make or be aware of. I’m loudly like to stay with windows 10 if possible, just for the fact XP & 7 are obsolete already & 10 have a little more support left in it. I found this on amazon…![]() Attachments:
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
XP may be obsolete, but it was working just fine before your old PC died.? If you’re only going to run Mach3 on the new one (and you should be) what exactly is Win10 going to give you? ? I run Win7 & Mach3 on an old Dell, works fine.? I don’t use that machine for anything else. ? Tony ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jim Neilson via groups.io
Sent: Monday, 27 November 2023 10:05 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.? Hey Steve, if I go the route of the ucc-100 dongle, is there any other changes I need to make or be aware of. I’m loudly like to stay with windows 10 if possible, just for the fact XP & 7 are obsolete already & 10 have a little more support left in it. I found this on amazon… Attachments:
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
I think John got some words mixed up. True, a generic parallel
dongle designed for running printers will not work for running a Mach controlled
CNC machine, but the USB based UC100 from CNCdrive and?the
Ethernet?SmoothStepper are motion controllers, not generic parallel port
dongles. These are known to work for Mach3 under Windows 10. Sorry for calling
it a UCC100, the correct model number is UC100.
?
The one that you?showed from?Amazon appears to be
the real deal despite the "sponsored" Sewell generic dongle being promoted
directly above it in the page presented on Amazon. Be sure that the one you buy
is the CNCdrive brand and avoid the Chinese knock-offs like those being offered
on Ali Express.
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Steve Stallings
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Hi
Jim,
MACH3
doesn’t work with Ethernet to parallel port dongles.? The way it does
stepping and reading encoders doesn’t with that model.
?
I’m
using USB SMoothstepper but it’s not recommended for new designs and there may
not even be a driver for WIN-10.? Instead the Ethernet Smoothstepper is a
better choice.? But since the smooth steppers came out more than 10 years
ago there are a lot more similar types of units.? The main thing is they do
the stepping pulses and high speed work under direction from MACH3.? A
parallel port dongle is not the same thing.
?
John
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?
?
?
Hey Steve, if I go the route of the ucc-100 dongle, is there
any other changes I need to make or be aware of. I’m loudly like to stay with
windows 10 if possible, just for the fact XP & 7 are obsolete already &
10 have a little more support left in it. I found this on amazon…
Attachments:
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
Hi Jim, MACH3 doesn’t work with Ethernet to parallel port dongles.? The way it does stepping and reading encoders doesn’t with that model. ? I’m using USB SMoothstepper but it’s not recommended for new designs and there may not even be a driver for WIN-10.? Instead the Ethernet Smoothstepper is a better choice.? But since the smooth steppers came out more than 10 years ago there are a lot more similar types of units.? The main thing is they do the stepping pulses and high speed work under direction from MACH3.? A parallel port dongle is not the same thing. ? John ? ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Neilson via groups.io
Sent: November 26, 2023 3:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.? Hey Steve, if I go the route of the ucc-100 dongle, is there any other changes I need to make or be aware of. I’m loudly like to stay with windows 10 if possible, just for the fact XP & 7 are obsolete already & 10 have a little more support left in it. I found this on amazon… Attachments:
|
Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
Hey Steve, if I go the route of the ucc-100 dongle, is there any other changes I need to make or be aware of. I’m loudly like to stay with windows 10 if possible, just for the fact XP & 7 are obsolete already & 10 have a little more support left in it. I found this on amazon… 
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
As Tony said, you can use Win 7 (but it must be the 32 bit
version) or you could use a USB to parallel port control dongle such as the
UCC-100. Be wary of eBay sellers that may be offering knock-offs of this device.
In case you are wondering why I am not suggesting the PMDX-411, it?only
works with Mach4.
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The parallel port
driver that Mach3 uses doesn’t work with Win10.? You’ll need to go back to
Win7 (or XP) for it to work.
?
Tony
?
?
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My old computer with XP crashed & I have found another
one with a parallel port on it but it has windows 10. I have down loaded Mach3
onto it, but it does not appear to be down loading the driver. I have ran a
driver test & the the result is an instant message saying there is not a
driver. Mach3 will load & will function on screen with the keyboard arrows
but the machine will not move. My parallel port connects to a Xylotex 4.03
board, which controls a Tiag bench top mill. I read some where that in order to
use this computer I was going have to buy a different controller, is this true?
If so, what controller do o need to acquire ? I really don’t understand all this
stuff other than what I have read on the Artsoft page & Visio’s on YouTube.
I’m going to be bald before I get this figured out. (No offense ?e to bald
folks)?
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Re: Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
The parallel port driver that Mach3 uses doesn’t work with Win10.? You’ll need to go back to Win7 (or XP) for it to work. ? Tony ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jim Neilson via groups.io
Sent: Monday, 27 November 2023 7:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.? My old computer with XP crashed & I have found another one with a parallel port on it but it has windows 10. I have down loaded Mach3 onto it, but it does not appear to be down loading the driver. I have ran a driver test & the the result is an instant message saying there is not a driver. Mach3 will load & will function on screen with the keyboard arrows but the machine will not move. My parallel port connects to a Xylotex 4.03 board, which controls a Tiag bench top mill. I read some where that in order to use this computer I was going have to buy a different controller, is this true? If so, what controller do o need to acquire ? I really don’t understand all this stuff other than what I have read on the Artsoft page & Visio’s on YouTube. I’m going to be bald before I get this figured out. (No offense ?e to bald folks)?
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Mach3 on computer with Parallel port & windows 10.
My old computer with XP crashed & I have found another one with a parallel port on it but it has windows 10. I have down loaded Mach3 onto it, but it does not appear to be down loading the driver. I have ran a driver test & the the result is an instant message saying there is not a driver. Mach3 will load & will function on screen with the keyboard arrows but the machine will not move. My parallel port connects to a Xylotex 4.03 board, which controls a Tiag bench top mill. I read some where that in order to use this computer I was going have to buy a different controller, is this true? If so, what controller do o need to acquire ? I really don’t understand all this stuff other than what I have read on the Artsoft page & Visio’s on YouTube. I’m going to be bald before I get this figured out. (No offense ?e to bald folks)?
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Mach4 build 5036 ESS plug-ins
my hard drive crashed, and I’ve got everything rebuilt except for the ESS plug-ins ?for Mach4 build 5036.?
I can’t seem to find the right plug-ins for that build, and was wondering if somebody could point me to them or possibly attach the two plug-ins here on the forum. ?
thanks,
thanks,
Chuck
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First thing to do is run above material with the spindle turned off. If it doesn't do it, then you have a noisy spindle.
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You could also be binding on the z-axis. Try removing stepper motor power and see if you can manually turn the motor shaft.
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Is there a tool length off set in your tool table? You could be setting your z zerowith the tool length off and when you run the g code it gets switched on.?
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Calum
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On 23/11/2023 03:37 NZDT SCMWCAD1 <scmwcad1@...> wrote:
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Hi Everyone,
?
Wishing you full tables, joy, and no difficult relatives tomorrow.
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I’m having a problem with my Z axis in Mach 3. I open Mach 3 , set my X, Y, and Z., load in my .NC file, and press start. I’m cutting a part out of 70# density tooling board. It cuts like butter on my mill. My stick out on a .250 3Flt FEM is just over 3 inches. When I press start, everything looks normal. Except the Z.
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I’ve zeroed the Z to the top of my part, which is 2.520”. At this point, my scale shows that I have milled just over an inch. The reading on Mach shows: 2.24”. It seems that for every .250: on Mach is really about an inch off of the part’s Z.
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I have shut down the system and waited a couple of minutes before starting the computer and mill. Then rinse, wash, repeat.
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Does anyone have any experience with this and what did you do to fix it?
?
Thanks,
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Terry Wellman
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I'm re-doing an old machine retrofit & going through my collection of parts I found a new Skyko Pixie P100 step/direction to analog servo driver I never actually used, is anyone interested in it?
I have the original pdf manual as well
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Hi Everyone, ? Wishing you full tables, joy, and no difficult relatives tomorrow. ? I’m having a problem with my Z axis in Mach 3. I open Mach 3 , set my X, Y, and Z., load in my .NC file, and press start. I’m cutting a part out of 70# density tooling board. It cuts like butter on my mill. My stick out on a .250 3Flt FEM is just over 3 inches. When I press start, everything looks normal. Except the Z. ? I’ve zeroed the Z to the top of my part, which is 2.520”. At this point, my scale shows that I have milled just over an inch. The reading on Mach shows: 2.24”. It seems that for every .250: on Mach is really about an inch off of the part’s Z. ? I have shut down the system and waited a couple of minutes before starting the computer and mill. Then rinse, wash, repeat. ? Does anyone have any experience with this and what did you do to fix it? ? Thanks, ? Terry Wellman
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Tamra, It worked,? Thanks , Chuck? On Nov 19, 2023, at 11:29 AM, Chuck Kahler via groups.io <chuck767@...> wrote:
? That’s a good idea, I thought by disabling i could get to work, but since it did not, I’m going to do what do you suggest?
Thanks, Chuck On Nov 19, 2023, at 10:29 AM, T B <michianamg@...> wrote:
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Why not temporarily uninstall your virus? software, load mach 4, check operating properly, and reinstall virus software...?
Tamra?
On Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 11:35:31 AM EST, Chuck Kahler <chuck767@...> wrote:
It looks like my virus checker (Sophos) ?is quarantining the “ MACH 4 core.DLL” ?file.
I’ve tried disabling my virus checker, and it continues to quarantine the file when I reload it.anybody have any suggestions?
?
Thanks,
Chuck.
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That’s a good idea, I thought by disabling i could get to work, but since it did not, I’m going to do what do you suggest?
Thanks, Chuck
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-sent from my iphone --
On Nov 19, 2023, at 10:29 AM, T B <michianamg@...> wrote:
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Why not temporarily uninstall your virus? software, load mach 4, check operating properly, and reinstall virus software...?
Tamra?
On Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 11:35:31 AM EST, Chuck Kahler <chuck767@...> wrote:
It looks like my virus checker (Sophos) ?is quarantining the “ MACH 4 core.DLL” ?file.
I’ve tried disabling my virus checker, and it continues to quarantine the file when I reload it.anybody have any suggestions?
?
Thanks,
Chuck.
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You should be able to exclude the mach4 directory from the virus check in its configuration.?
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Calum?
On 20/11/2023 07:29 NZDT T B <michianamg@...> wrote:
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?
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Why not temporarily uninstall your virus? software, load mach 4, check operating properly, and reinstall virus software...?
?
Tamra?
?
On Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 11:35:31 AM EST, Chuck Kahler <chuck767@...> wrote:
?
?
It looks like my virus checker (Sophos) ?is quarantining the “ MACH 4 core.DLL” ?file.
I’ve tried disabling my virus checker, and it continues to quarantine the file when I reload it.anybody have any suggestions?
?
Thanks,
Chuck.
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Art