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What's your budget, Chuy? How often do you plan to use the CNC? Are you going to be doing just signs and plaques or will you be wanting to do short production runs on engineering type pieces? The requirements, and cost, for these are different. You can do signs and plaques all day long on a more robust and rigid machine along with the engineered pieces in quantity. A smaller and lighter machine may not be as repeatable or accurate as the heavier and more rigid machines but that doesn't matter as much on signs and plaques.

David

 

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There is MACH4 but MACH3 has more users and free user support and the license permits commercial use. Mach4 commercial version is very expensive and the hobby version is OK but CRIPPLED.

Maybe I don't push it very hard but in the last 18 months I have found no limitations in Mach4 Hobby. Works great for me.

David

 

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Mach 4 Hobby US200 Mach4 Industrial US1,400 (Mach3 FULL $175)

The Following are ALL NO for the Hobby version..(Yes refers to Industrial (commercial version)
Tool Life Management (G10 L3 command) Yes
Screw Mapping Yes
Professional Screen Designer (advanced G.U.I.) Yes
- Screen Animation Control Yes
- Screen Integrated Tool Table Control Yes
- Screen Integrated Work Offset Control Yes
- Screen Integrated gcode editor Yes
- Screen Artsoft Wizard Package Integration Yes
Macro B gcode Programming (#variables) Yes
- User definable gcodes via marco calls Yes
- Macro Calls: G65, G66, G66.1 Yes
- gcode via marco call (custom G codes via macro B) Yes
- mcode via macro call (custom M codes via macro B) Yes
- mcode via sub code (custom M code via sup program) Yes
- Conditional gcodes Yes
- set VN call - define variable names Yes
gcode Editor Included

MACH3 also listed as not able to do those things but because MACH3 uses C++ and original MACH programmer taught and allowed others to extend Mach3, many people have been able to enhanced MACH3 in creative ways.
MACH 4 uses LUA script with limited API, so if it is NO, you can do nothing about it but pay for the Industrial (commercial) version.

Yep, after reading your list it's like I said - no limitations that I've run into yet. I don't use or need anything you listed and only know what half that stuff is anyway.

My 3HP PM66 has limitations relative to the 5HP PM66 but I have yet to bog down or even slow down the blade even while making 3" deep cuts in Walnut on the 3HP PM66. Therefore, the 3HP 'hobby' saw is plenty adequate for me, I don't need the Industrial 5HP model. :wink:

David

 

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Mach3 users can always upgrade.

Yes, but unlike the Vectric line of products if you have Mach3 and want Mach4 you'll pay full price, no credit for your Mach3 purchase. Since Mach3 is at EOL I just started with Mach4 knowing there may be some stated limitations but also knowing those are so far above my current needs that I would be ok or find a work around.

I bought a Logitech F710 wireless game controller back when I was building the CNC but haven't really tried to hook it up for use. Seems like I spent about 5 minutes doing a search and couldn't find a readymade script so I put it aside. There may be one now, I don't know, but I haven't missed what I've never known. I just use the mouse and click on the buttons in Mach4 for jogging.

David