[limun]

Hi.
As you can see I'm new here. My English is not perfect so please have some patience with me ;D
I don't know am i posting this thread in the right place. If I'm not, moderators please move it where it should be.

I bought cnc router machine from China while I has on vacation. To be honest it works well but I'm not happy with it's software( NC Studio V55). Why??? For example if I want to use two or more tools in same job it's not possible. Program doesn't support manual tool change when it have to change tool. It just continues to work using first tool set to use in program(I use vectric v carve pro and cut3d). There is to option like in mach 3 that machine stops, so that I could change tool, recalibrate( I have mobile calibrator), and when I finish I simply would press start and machine would continue to work using different tool.

Here are some pictures of my hardware:
Pci card that goes into my pc:
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4854/dsc01922v.jpg
It has 15 pin male connector on it back(for d15 2 row cable).

This is interior of my machine:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4387/dsc01928oe.jpg

PLC picture+description on it(stepper motor):
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9484/dsc01933q.jpg

Cable that connects ''machine interior'' and pci card inside my computer:
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3851/dsc01934u.jpg


Official name for control system that this machine uses is Weihong control system.


I have one old computer that has 15 pin MIDI connector on it's motherboard.

I hope that I gave you enough description about my hardware.

What would I have to do so that I could run mach3. Can I simply connect 15 pin cable from my machine to MIDI port and configure mach3 ??? Will I damage anything if I do that???
Is there any option so that I could insert some kind of breakout board to change 15 pin cable to some other kind of connector(standard 25 pin or rj45). I'm also asking that because I would like to add MPG to my machine (something like this CNC4PC ).



Thx in advance for all ansewers you will give to me !!!

[Dorsal]

There is a support forum over at Artsoft, the company that makes Mach3 software. Maybe you could also post your question over there and get a definitive answer that would definitely be correct.
Now my opinion: From what I understand, Mach3 can only communicate through a Parallel Port on your computer, and I've never seen Midi Ports mentioned. That doesn't mean it can't be done, but that's what input I can give you.

[vger]

Looks like connection to the stepper drivers would be fairly easy. Dorsal is right about the MIDI connector, MIDI is a whole different type of interface for specific serial data streams for musical devices.

You will need a parallel port on the computer to connect through a breakout board (BOB) to the stepper drivers. From that point you should not have a problem. You should also be able to connect your spindle drive up to the BOB for control of the spindle.

Steve

[cityguru]

Your board looks very similar to my JCUT machine, would you happen to know where you connect a Probe for what is used when you press "Mobile Calibrator" in NCSTUDIO