Mach3 / Turbocnc

[outback]

From Paul A


I would be curious about any comparison you could make between these two. I have noticed that the Mach3 software is relatively inexpensive and seems to have great support. I don't know as much about the TurboCNC.


I have ran Turbocnc on WIN98 laptops for almost 8 years on a Bridgeport retrofit and some home built machines. I built another bench mounted 3 Axis mill 3 months ago and run Mach3 on it. I wanted to tryout mach3 for a number of reasons. One reason was in anticipation of my old WIN 98 machines crapping out someday and needing new computers and newer software to run my CNC machines.

I'm able to run any of my CNC machines from either Turbocnc or Mach3 without changing any wiring or circuit boards. All I need to do is connect a computer loaded with either software and I can RUN any machine.

Below are some observations I have made between Turbocnc and Mach3:

Turbocnc runs in DOS and is very intuitive. Any computer with a math co-processor can run Turbocnc. Windows 3.1, 95, 98 is not required. Turbocnc runs very well on my Compaq laptop computers. Computer, keyboard and monitor all in one small package. Anyone should be able to learn to use Turbocnc. Excellent for a beginner.

Mach3 needs Windows XP. Fairly intuitive, beautiful graphics and I love the JOG features. There is a window to monitor the tool position within the currently running program. Nice, but I never look at it. Mach3 will not run off a normal laptop computer. Not saying it can't be done. I bought a used desktop computer loaded with WIN XP to run Mach3. I also think mach3 actually runs my stepper motors smoother than Turbocnc. I can run my CAD software, CAM software and Mach3 all at the same time on the same computer. Mach3 also allows editing the G-code without leaving Mach3. Not so easy with Turbocnc running in DOS.

Turbocnc seems to be better for running producion. The operator can type in the number of pieces to be made. Pieces already ran and the reamining number is displayed on the screen. When a piece is finished, Turbocnc has a beeper that sounds off. Reload the machine and hit the ENTER key and Turbocnc makes another part. If Mach3 has this feature, I have yet to find it. To make additional runs with Mach3 the operator needs to hit the rewind key then the RUN key all with the mouse. That makes a different running production. Someone told be to place M30 and the % sign at the end of the program and the program will rewind itself leaving only the RUN key to make another part.

Below is my Bridgeport retrofit with a Compaq laptop running Turbocnc. I'm going to hate replacing the laptop with a desktop, monitor and keyboard so I can run Mach3.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/jglass/retrofitdone0003.jpg

My newest CNC project. What a sweet running machine running Mach3.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/jglass/CNC%20projects/CNC%20%20Mill%203/MillDone.jpg
link to more pics and videos of this machine: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v30/jglass/CNC%20projects/CNC%20%20Mill%203/

This is where I put the monitor for the desktop computer: View from shop Notice the cumputer in lower left of the pic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/jglass/shopspace2.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30/jglass/shopspace1.jpg

I think I'll be running both turbocnc and Mach3 for a long time. Never contacted either one for tech support
Outback

[MTNGUN]

Outback didn't say which version of Turbocnc he is running. Version 3 had beeps for tool changes and end of program, but the beeps were dropped in version 4 for reasons that were never explained.

Version 3 had an extremely intuitive keyboard interface, but V3 was extremely buggy. Version 4 got a new interface designed for a mouse. The keyboard interface is no longer intuitive and in fact they never finished writing the keyboard interface, so some of the keyboard commands don't even work. V4 fixed some bugs but not all.

Problems with V4 include:

-- crashes when it can't load a file, instead of merely giving an error (ditto V3).

-- crashes if you delete too many program lines within the editor.

-- some people report that it doesn't do arcs right, though I do arcs every day without problems. Arcs were a big problem in V3 and most arc bugs were fixed in V4.

-- it is very sensitive to hardware, will run steppers well on one PC and not another PC (ditto V3).

-- the creator lost interest so there is no support, last I heard. Bugs will never be fixed. It is what it is and won't change.

-- written in Pascal, few people want to deal with Pascal.

Strengths:

-- runs on old DOS boxes

-- simple keyboard interface, no mouse required

Because of the lack of support, I can't recommend TurboCNC for someone getting started. I use it because that's what I started with and it works for me and I see no reason to change. I think TurboCNC had the potential to become a solid production oriented CNC interpreter, but that went down the toilet when the creator lost interest.

I demo'd Mach III. It requires a better PC with Windoze (more $$$$). The interface is more complicated and not keyboard-friendly (I don't have room for a mouse nor does a mouse belong in an oily, dusty shop environment). I glanced at the Mach III forum and saw lots of threads about bugs, so that didn't inspire confidence. I hear that Mach III does a better job of driving steppers than TurboCNC. I came away with the impression that Mach III is geared toward hobbyists who like eye candy and who want lots of bells and whistles to play with.

[macona]

PCs to run mach3 are a dime a dozen. Go to goodwill or other various thrift stores and fine a P4. Cheap! Make sure the Certificate of Authenticity sticker is still on the machine. Thats your license to install a new copy of windows. I have seen PC's go for as little as 10-15 bucks with a Win XP pro license on it. The license itself is worth $45 some places.

I started out with Turbocnc myself but long abandoned it. Mach had so many more useful features like wizards and macro programability to talk to other things like tool changers. Also modbus and stuff like that.

Mach is officially not supported on laptops. Laptops have all sorts of power saving circuitry that interferes with the pulse stream.

Another option for a cheap computer to run mach is one of the dual core atom boards. They are about $89 and something like 7" square.

[outback]

crashes when it can't load a file, instead of merely giving an error (ditto V3).

I bought Turbocnc in about 2001 and really don't know the version. I have experienced crashes only when loading a file. Since I load files from a 3 1/2 floppy disk, I always thought it was the disks or the disk drive instead of a program glitch. When mine crashes I loose my x, y and z reference points. I learned to protect myself from crashes and lived with them. I try to keep my machine at X0, Y0 and Z.1 when loading a program. If I have a crash I know where the machine was. I reload Turbocnc and rezero each axis and reload the g-code program from a new floppy disk and usually I'm up and running.


some people report that it doesn't do arcs right, though I do arcs every day without problems

I have seen that as well. If you machine a circle using the basic arc command without using I and J the circle will not be perfectly round. Now I program mostly with CAM software and circles are within .002 or .003 from roundness. Probably caused from backlash. The CAM software always uses I and J for programming arcs. I assume that is the difference. Don't ever try to over-ride the feed rate while machining an arc. It really goes nuts doing that.

I have also noticed Mach3 will loose positions by stopping the program while moving. Turbocnc does not seem to have a problem with that even while machining an arc.

I actually met and spoke with "Art", the guy that wrote Mach3 software at one of the CNC Workshops in Galesburg Illinois. He said his software was not perfect and under special conditions it was possible for someone to find a glitch in the software. He went on to say his software was pretty darn good for what it cost, and I have to agree.

I bought Turbocnc back in 2001 for $20 and I still think it is well worth the money. I have used it for countless hours and made some fairly significant money running it.

Outback

[macona]

When you hit stop in mach it does a hard stop, no deceleration is used. So you can loose steps if you hit stop in a move. I always feedhold and then stop.