Mach3 & Windows 7

JimBob

JimBob

Emerick's Custom Cues
Silver Member
Has anyone had any problems with Mach3 and Windows 7? I installed a camera and my old laptop and it wouldn't run both. So i changed computers with windows 7 and the mach3 doesn't work with the same configuration. Everything loads up, camera works and it looks like it will work, but the key board wont run the servo motors, ie x,y,z etc. Looking for a idea!

Thanks all
 
JimBob,

Windows7 comes in 2 major categories - 32-bit and 64-bit. There is no support in 64-bit OS's for the parallel printer port, so there is no way for Mach3 to talk to it.
To overcome this obstacle, you have a couple of choices.
1) You can uninstall Windows7 64-bit and re-install Windows7 32-bit. Then Mach3 will run just fine - and before certain individuals try to tell you otherwise - I am doing that on one of my machines and it works just fine.
2) You can replace the parallel card with a SmoothStepper. There are several sources of SmoothSteppers, but they all (as far as I can tell) are variations on the designs offered here:
http://warp9td.com/
You will see on that page that you have 2 choices in SmoothSteppers - USB and Ethernet. The Ethernet seems favored by those who have installed both. They say it runs smoother. I installed the Ethernet version and Mach3 certainly rune smoother than the old parallel port method.
That's not to say you don't add another level of complexity to your installation, but "progress comes at a price" or something like that.
If you decide to go that route, I'll be happy to help you through the installation, as it is a little less than polished. :wink:
FWIW, I bought my Ethernet SmoothStepper from this site:
http://www.soigeneris.com/ I have received good support from Jeff, the owner (he also is a co-developer of the ESS and is prominent on the Warp9 site).
Hope this helps.
Gary
 
Thanks Gary,

Mach3 was installed on the 32bit version and it didn't work, a networking friend of mine came over and we uninstalled mach3 and reinstalled it under the "run in XP compilable mode" set up the defaults for my machine, and it worked fine. At least the keyboard will run the x,y etc. I would like to learn more on this SmoothStepper device, maybe we can talk some time on the benefits.

Thanks all and maybe this will help on other Win 7 installations. Also if theirs going to be a problem i will have it.. hahaha!
 
GBCues said:
JimBob,

Windows7 comes in 2 major categories - 32-bit and 64-bit. There is no support in 64-bit OS's for the parallel printer port, so there is no way for Mach3 to talk to it.
To overcome this obstacle, you have a couple of choices.
1) You can uninstall Windows7 64-bit and re-install Windows7 32-bit. Then Mach3 will run just fine - and before certain individuals try to tell you otherwise - I am doing that on one of my machines and it works just fine.
2) You can replace the parallel card with a SmoothStepper. There are several sources of SmoothSteppers, but they all (as far as I can tell) are variations on the designs offered here:
http://warp9td.com/
You will see on that page that you have 2 choices in SmoothSteppers - USB and Ethernet. The Ethernet seems favored by those who have installed both. They say it runs smoother. I installed the Ethernet version and Mach3 certainly rune smoother than the old parallel port method.
That's not to say you don't add another level of complexity to your installation, but "progress comes at a price" or something like that.
If you decide to go that route, I'll be happy to help you through the installation, as it is a little less than polished. :wink:
FWIW, I bought my Ethernet SmoothStepper from this site:
http://www.soigeneris.com/ I have received good support from Jeff, the owner (he also is a co-developer of the ESS and is prominent on the Warp9 site).
Hope this helps.
Gary
Click to expand...

Gary,

I am running Windows 7 (64 bit) on a Dell Optiplex PC and Mach 3 with no issues. The OS defaults any non-compatible 64 bit devices to run in 32 bit. Smooth stepper is good option too.
 
Guerra Cues said:
Gary,

I am running Windows 7 (64 bit) on a Dell Optiplex PC and Mach 3 with no issues. The OS defaults any non-compatible 64 bit devices to run in 32 bit. Smooth stepper is good option too.
Click to expand...

Tony,
Thanks for the clarification - that goes against everything I've read up to now - but experience is truth.
Thanks,
Gary
 
First question. Are you still using a laptop? Second do you have a real printer port or a USB converter? Either situation is no good for Mach 3. The smoothstepper would be a good solution but the Ethernet version only as the USB version is prone to noise issues. I prefer windows Xp however it is possible to use newer.

Jim.
 
Hi Jim,
I guess you are talking to me in regards to the laptop, yes the computer has a printer port, and we installed Mach3 it as a xp install and it is working fine. Although i haven't cut any parts or pockets as yet i will do that tomorrow, but it is controlling the x,y,z through the key board and it wouldn't do that before. It seems to be fine and seems to travel a little faster, this smoothstepper sounds interesting though..!
 
JimBob said:
I ran this machine 4 years on a laptop with no problems.
Click to expand...

It is certainly possible to run Mach3 with a laptop. Just not advised. The reason is the 5v power supply on a laptop maybe week. Another side effect will be missed steps at rapid movements. As far as windows 7 it maybe a crap shoot. I have always just used XP to avoid this issues. I know of at least one other person using Windows 7 with no issues.

Now the smooth stepper will improve any system using a printer port for Mach 3 as it has a strong clock speed of 4 Meg. The ESS is a bit hard to get setup however it will run much better and smoother than without. I will not use anything else. But that is just me.

Jim.
 
Yeah Jim, i have went to another computer not the laptop, but it did serve me will. I am going to run some test today to see what effects win7 has if any. Is this stepper a stand alone or on the board. Thanks you and the others for your inputs, it is appreciated.
 
JimBob,
There are pictures of the board and installation instructions/drawings in the Warp9TD link that I provided.
Gary
 
JimBob said:
Yeah Jim, i have went to another computer not the laptop, but it did serve me will. I am going to run some test today to see what effects win7 has if any. Is this stepper a stand alone or on the board. Thanks you and the others for your inputs, it is appreciated.
Click to expand...

The smoothstepper replaces your printer port. It is emulating 3 printer ports for that matter. You will still need some sort of drive for your motors. It will send step and direction to the drives.

Jim .
 
Yes Gary i did look at the board, but didn't look at the installation on it, I read through the pdf and it didn't look to difficult but i will be able to complicate it. haha. still tweaking on the camera but its getting their.
 
OK good. We can't ever be sure what someone else has looked at.
I was actually glad to see/hear Jim/MC2 say it was a little complicated - it's not so complicated as the instructions are vague, but I worked through it.
Gary
 
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