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Brand new at CNC and need simple help

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by geneo, Feb 19, 2020.

  1. geneo

    geneo New
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    I think I've made a mistake. I bought a cheap Chinese router off of Ebay. I got a 3040 T usb. I bought Mach3 and installed it. I couldn't seem to make it work, and went back to the CNC usb Controller software. I have had some very limited success in getting this to work. I have spent many hours on line and in the manual that was included. Every one says something different. I am starting to think I just got a cheap controller and router. Upon looking at your site I am wondering if I can upgrade them. I'm asking PLEASE don't jargon me. I don't know anything, but the bare minimum about codes and port, and pins and all that. Thanks
     
  2. Rob Taylor

    Rob Taylor Master
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    If you want a relatively simple off-the-shelf solution with solid customer service (and your lack of experience suggests that would be wise), you seem like a pretty good candidate, to me, for BlackBox. I'm sure @Peter Van Der Walt will be along shortly to pitch you on it. ;)

    It's a different system to Mach 3, you wouldn't need that, but unless you wanted to go the SmoothStepper route and get help for it on other forums (not many here use Mach, honestly) so you could continue using Mach 3- which itself is essentially deprecated as a piece of software anyway- I'd go with a grbl based controller for a simple router system. And BlackBox is about the same amount of money as buying an Arduino Uno and good quality stepper drivers and putting them together yourself anyway, but it's much more beginner-friendly.
     
    Peter Van Der Walt likes this.
  3. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

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    (; always: See docs.openbuilds.com/blackbox for "everything" you want to know
    And then see software.openbuilds.com for everything else you need
    Finally: Some video:



    (PS many more videos on that same channel, detailing wiring etc)
     

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