Apr 20, 2011 - Out of the box Mach3 provides some limited ways of communicating with external devices over the serial port (not counting MODBUS). The.dll is available for download from their web-site but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to. Need to create an account in order to access the file there (which I believe is free).

Marty_Escarcega wrote:DONT plug your machine into a SERIAL Port (male pins) When I see RS232 and CNC together I think Serial. RS232 is something different when dealing with Mach 3 as opposed to the rest of the CNC world where it is a standard method of Serial communication? I have never had anything to do with Mach 3, but it seems it is it's own little Country. Glenn, Mach3 communicates to the outside world via the input andoutput pins of the PC parallel port. It sends step and direction signals used by most stepper drives out this port and some servo drives. Mach also supports a secon parallel port for more I/O too.

Check out you db 25 cables carefully with a ohm meter you may well find several pins without connection. This being because newer printers before going all usb had limited requirements. This link will provide you with common pin out and standards. Please note rs232 is a protocol standard for communication and can even be used on 2 twisted wires this does not prevent a manf from changing things up a bit to encourage buying thier inhouse cables at inflated costs good carefull tracing will sort this out i will also add a like to many discussions on these machines that may prove helpful. You both amaze and disgust me. Someone has put hundreds if not thousands of hours into developing the Mach software and you want it for free.

There are plenty of machines out there that run with Mach. I have had a Tormach PCNC 1100 Series II using the Mach operating system since July 2011. And the only thing I have ever done with it is push the green button and run it. I have run it for hundreds if not thousands of hours with absolutely no hint of a problem.

All I do is keep the machine well lubed and clean it out once in a while.

Software interpolation (32 bit adapter only): Software microstep produce more precise time control, specially at low speed. Enter N>1 as software microstep and multiply by N your Mach3 StepPer setting All movement will be lot more smooth (and low noise).

When using software microstep multiplicator, Mach3 motion planner will work exacly as if the StepPer parameter was much higher than the physical one, without reducing maximum speed and frequency! Press EStop from inactive to active (or twice if already active) before tuning motors. Plugin type and port number: full motion plugin (Mach3 use the plugin for all motor movement) IO Extender (Mach3 still use parallel port for motion but use the plugin for some of it's input/output. Must select a available parallel port number. A second port number (default 2) may be entered for dual port USB card.

Restart Mach3 if any change. Auto-off on enable signals: The adapter can automatically cut enable signals when no move after 0.5 second (approx. Default), this is very convenient and should be checked. For 32bit card: auto-off duration can be set.