Just watched A youtube video and Have so many questions

1

Well not a lot of questions but a couple. I watched Frank Holworth’s latest video and he upgraded his control box but he didnt mention the motors? Is this an option I dont know about? I am totally satisfied with the motors I am using but I like the newer software from what I have seen and it would work better with my workflow. Anyway questions:

  1. Is this possible to upgrade the control without the motors?
  2. He had a tool height setter (is this only available with the new stuff)
  3. is it worth it? Is this a case of this is shiny and I like it?
  4. He had the pendant, again only on the new stuff?

These are my questions. Feel free to answer one or all of them.

2

Yes you can use the motors you have and still upgrade to the new controller

3
  1. Yes the tool height setter is only available with the EX Controller.
  2. I had Mach4 with the NEMA 34 motors and did the upgrade including the new servos. The software is better, running most all processes on the EX Controller rather than the PC makes the system rock solid. The tool height setter is great, and the system produces much smoother results (less sanding!). So, yes it is expensive but for me was totally worth it.
  3. The pendant works with the EX Controller. I didn’t buy one but I might at some point.

Cheers,
Garth

4

Hi,

  1. Yes - you can upgrade it without the motor upgrade; I have the upgraded control system but my older stepper motors
  2. You can add a tool height setter to the old system, Mach 4, but it will require you to write some Lua code to measure tool heights, and you have to purchase a 3rd party one. Many people have done this. The Centroid system has it built in via some code Avid wrote for their own tool heigh setter.
  3. I find I get better cleaner cuts as a result of using Centroid instead of Mach 4; that might make it worth it in itself. If you aren’t a programmer, then adding a tool height setter might be really difficult to add to Mach 4; the tool height setter might also make it worth it for you.
  4. There are pendants available for Mach 4; check out VistaCNC

Corbin

5

Thanks for the reply! I am gonna see when the box comes back in to stock and maybe get one. Sounds like a good purchase.

6

Thanks!!!

7

Thanks!!! I appreciate you taking the time to answer! Have a great day

8

Yes. In many cases you can upgrade the controller without changing the motors, as long as the new control system supports the same motor type.