unfortunately in Mach 3 it is not as simple as just using M11/M10. I have a separate laser only machine 3 profile with many modification made to the configuration to make those commands work without any delay in firing the laser. This also requires a small breakout board to be added to your CNC controller this is outlined in the mach 3 set upI have attached. I made this profile many years ago after scouring Mach 3 and other forums for information. I don’t know if this will help you but it might help others who have Mach 3 and would like to use a laser attachment. I will also attach my apple scripts for GRBL-M3 and GRBL-NEW to convert these to something created in lightburn that Mach3 can use. This could very well be specific to my Endurance laser and how it interacts with Mach 3. I have never tested it with a different set up. Hopefully there is some value to it for you.
I have attached my set up guide for Mach 3. this is also posted in this forum in a different thread. I will add the link to the thread also. Mach 3 set up thread
Mach 3 set up.pdf (372.9 KB)
I am not able to upload scripts to this thread. my laser script is pasted into this thread. M3/M5 to M11/M10 apple script. This is the apple script I use to convert GRBL-M3 in light burn for 100% power/cutting. I have a separate script that I use for fill tool paths or to use less than 100% power that works with GRBL-NEW. That script Adds M11PxSx commands above every G0 move to an fire or turn off the laser.
this apple script is pasted below as I can not upload the file. Again I’m not sure how much use this is but maybe it gives you some information or helps someone else. Feel free to use/modify this as needed if it is helpful to you. One day I will try to modify these further to see if I can get my system to output greyscale raster images but I have not yet had the time or motivation to try this. But this thread has be shining about this again.
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-- Choose the file to be modified using the Finder
set chosenFile to choose file with prompt “Choose a file to modify:”
set fileReference to open for access chosenFile with write permission
-- Initialize variables
set modifiedLines to {}
-- Define the text to be inserted
set insertLineAbove to “M10P2”
set insertLineBelow to “M11P2 S45”
-- Read and process the file line by line
try
-- Read the file line by line
**set** eofReached **to** *false*
**repeat** **until** eofReached
**try**
-- Read the current line
**set** currentLine **to** **read** fileReference until "
"
-- Check if the line contains "G0"
**if** currentLine **contains** "G0" **then**
-- Add M10P2 one line above the G0 command
**set** **end** **of** modifiedLines **to** insertLineAbove
**set** **end** **of** modifiedLines **to** currentLine
-- Add M11P2 S30 one line below the G0 command
**set** **end** **of** modifiedLines **to** insertLineBelow
**else**
-- Keep the line unchanged
**set** **end** **of** modifiedLines **to** currentLine
**end** **if**
**on** **error**
-- End of file reached
**set** eofReached **to** *true*
**end** **try**
**end** **repeat**
-- Close the file
**close access** fileReference
-- Combine the modified lines into a single string
**set** modifiedText **to** (*items* 1 **thru** -2 **of** modifiedLines) **as** *text*
-- Write the modified text back to the file
**set** fileReference **to** **open for access** chosenFile **with** write permission
**set eof** **of** fileReference to 0
**write** modifiedText to fileReference
**close access** fileReference
**display dialog** "File successfully modified and saved." buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
on error errMsg
-- Handle any errors that occur
**try**
**close access** fileReference
**end** **try**
**display dialog** "Error: " & errMsg buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
end try
