Mach4 Hobby Motion Control
Mach4 is completely new software and has less than 1% of the programming code in common with Mach3. It was written from the ground up to be expandable, flexible, and extremely responsive for use with very large files. While there was only one version of Mach3, Mach4 will be offered in different versions (not including the many customized OEM versions).
Mach4 is not designed for a specific motion control device and will need a plugin and motion control board to operate a CNC system. Mach3 was primarily designed for the parallel port which has become obsolete.
We do not recommend using the parallel port (without a motion control board) with Mach4 as performance is reduced by both this data connection and the processing and memory power of older computers. Warp9td have great motion control boards (SmoothSteppers) with plugins for Mach4 available. Please visit their websites to purchase a board or download the plugin that is needed for use with Mach4.
If you require a system run from the parallel port, you will need to purchase the parallel port legacy plugin. Art Fenerty helped write this code and he will be thanked directly by your purchase of the legacy plugin for his work and commitment.
