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Novakon NM-200 upgrade from mach3

B

BldrJ

Member
My XP machines are getting flakey and I've noticed some unpredictable behaviour with Mach3. I've really just started learning it so I'm not tied to it.
I design a lot in Fusion, but like to use my mill (and lathe) with the wizards and conversational programming.
I have a few spare PCs, and one UC300ETH board (not tied to using it).
I've seen a few upgrades to Pathpilot. What I'm looking for is whether I should look at LinuxCNC or Pathpilot and what alternatives there may be to the Mesa cards being as I may get hit with 25% tariffs (and shipping, and duty). Buying more than one might make it worth it though.
I saw a PicoBOB (expatria) and some other parallel port adapters that looked like they might work with the BOB in the Mill (and lathe) (they're c11 cnc4pc I think).
I'm not keen on learning all the settings and struggles, would prefer to get it up and running, then learn if need be for adding probing, axis, upgrades to servos, etc.

I'm looking for suggestions from experience please!
 
If your XP machines are getting flakey it could be two things
1) Mach 3 is old technology now.
2) sticking with a parallel port is going to limit you.

I'd look at the FlexiHAL board from Expatria. grblHAL is quite advanced now. I'd also give FluidNC a good look.
 
David said:
If your XP machines are getting flakey it could be two things
1) Mach 3 is old technology now.
2) sticking with a parallel port is going to limit you.

I'd look at the FlexiHAL board from Expatria. grblHAL is quite advanced now. I'd also give FluidNC a good look.
Click to expand...
Agree with 1 & 2. Ready to move on. I'm looking for something that still has "wizards" or the capability to do conversational programming since I'm not always running something from a model on fusion.
Thanks for the suggestions!
 
BldrJ said:
Agree with 1 & 2. Ready to move on. I'm looking for something that still has "wizards" or the capability to do conversational programming since I'm not always running something from a model on fusion.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Click to expand...
From what I’ve read in the threads, it looks like Pathpilot is the route for me, providing it won’t be too difficult to set up with my mill.
 
Buy a 7i92T, set your PathPilot machine to be a 1100-3 and modify 1 file with your limits, lead screw pitch and possibly homing direction.
Buy the PathPilot USB stick from Tormach at US$29.95.

Always avoid parallel port with LinuxCNC, and have only 1 ethernet port in your PC. Use wifi for network access.

Use a US Address in Niagara Falls, NY to save on shipping costs. I used to use CBI,

gerrit
 
gerritv said:
Buy a 7i92T, set your PathPilot machine to be a 1100-3 and modify 1 file with your limits, lead screw pitch and possibly homing direction.
Buy the PathPilot USB stick from Tormach at US$29.95.

Always avoid parallel port with LinuxCNC, and have only 1 ethernet port in your PC. Use wifi for network access.

Use a US Address in Niagara Falls, NY to save on shipping costs. I used to use CBI,

gerrit
Click to expand...
Thanks! I'll go that route. Can get most Tormach stuff from Studica (Mississauga).
 
they won't sell you a usb stick with pathpilot unless you have a serial number. Argued with them but in the end bought it direct from Tormach.
 
Mike R said:
I bought the stick from Studica, no Tormach SN required (at least I don't remember providing it).
Click to expand...
No problems buying the stick from Studica for me either. Now with a pair of 7i92T's time to get at transitioning my mill and a Emco 5 CNC from Mach...any tips?
 
No tips on transitioning from Mach to Pathpilot, but I do have my Emco Compact 5 running LinuxCNC and actually want to try Pathpilot, but that is a rainy day activity somewhere down the list, cause I know with the tool changer its going to be a gong show getting it to play nice with Pathpilot, that and I have a 7i76e as my control card so probably more magic needed to figure out making Pathpilot play nice with it.

Does you Emco 5 have the tool changer?
 
For the mill,
- Set the 7i92T to 10.10.10.10
- Connect it to your only ethernet port
- boot your pc from the USB (it will clear/delete everything on your hard drive)
- pick 1100-3 from the list of machines

if you need internet access use a usb WiFi module.

If all is well, then peruse this thread for info on changing your x, y, z information to match machine. https://www.forum.linuxcnc.org/pathpilot/30214-pathpilot-to-non-tormach-machines-tutorial-part1

There is a separate thread there about the lathe, it is a bit wierd due to how Tormach interfaces the limit switches.

gerrit
 
gerritv said:
For the mill,
- Set the 7i92T to 10.10.10.10
- Connect it to your only ethernet port
- boot your pc from the USB (it will clear/delete everything on your hard drive)
- pick 1100-3 from the list of machines

if you need internet access use a usb WiFi module.

If all is well, then peruse this thread for info on changing your x, y, z information to match machine. https://www.forum.linuxcnc.org/pathpilot/30214-pathpilot-to-non-tormach-machines-tutorial-part1

There is a separate thread there about the lathe, it is a bit wierd due to how Tormach interfaces the limit switches.

gerrit
Click to expand...
Looks interesting.
 
gerritv said:
For the mill,
- Set the 7i92T to 10.10.10.10
- Connect it to your only ethernet port
- boot your pc from the USB (it will clear/delete everything on your hard drive)
- pick 1100-3 from the list of machines

if you need internet access use a usb WiFi module.

If all is well, then peruse this thread for info on changing your x, y, z information to match machine. https://www.forum.linuxcnc.org/pathpilot/30214-pathpilot-to-non-tormach-machines-tutorial-part1

There is a separate thread there about the lathe, it is a bit wierd due to how Tormach interfaces the limit switches.

gerrit
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for the link to the tutorial! I've seen so many threads and most of them end up with some problem or another. Is the 1100-3 the closest to the Novakon nm-200 Series 1 with steppers. Thanks!
 
Mike R said:
No tips on transitioning from Mach to Pathpilot, but I do have my Emco Compact 5 running LinuxCNC and actually want to try Pathpilot, but that is a rainy day activity somewhere down the list, cause I know with the tool changer its going to be a gong show getting it to play nice with Pathpilot, that and I have a 7i76e as my control card so probably more magic needed to figure out making Pathpilot play nice with it.

Does you Emco 5 have the tool changer?
Click to expand...
No tool changer unfortunately.
 
I just offered the machine that was closest to my shop made CNC. I would look at Tormach's lineup for similar to yours, but you also need to consider which of those ones use the 7i92T as well.
 
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