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Question #: 14989

Question: How do I recover my MACH4 hobby license?

Current Solution

To recover your Mach4 hobby license, email us the PC-ID (in the help-about section of Mach4). If this is a new computer you are trying use for Mach4, email us the old PC-ID, or your name if you don't have that PC-ID anymore, and the new PC-ID so we can re-issue a license for the new computer.

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Other Possible Solutions to this Question

  • How can I control my VFD using Mach4 cnc control software?

    The best way to determine how to control your VFD using Mach4 is to read the MAch4 manual found here:
    http://www.machsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Mach4%20Installation%20Manual.pdf

    You will find that there a a few ways to control the spindle/VFD on your CNC machine or CNC Router.
    - The first and easiest is to have your VFD's power controlled by a relay. This will allow your spindle to have on/off control through Mach4 with an output pin.
    - The second is to have a controller output a DAC voltage between 0-10 volts to control speed on the VFD/Spindle. There is a termial on the VFD to receive this signal line. The controller will also have an output that outputs a high or low and that can control the on/off on the VFD.
    - The third, and more difficult of the three methods is to use a USB to Serial adapter (USB to USART or RS-485). The Computer plugs into the adapter using a USB cable and the adapter uses the RX/TX to connect to the VFD's terminals for communication. This will provide a great amount of control. Mach4 will need a plug-in to make this option work.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How can I control my VFD using Mach4 cnc control software?

  • I ordered a Mach3 license to be delivered by email, how long does that take to receive ?

    Mach3 license purchases are processed during our working hours of 9 AM - 5 PM Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday. If you order after hours, licensed will generally be sent to your email address the following morning.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I ordered a Mach3 license to be delivered by email, how long does that take to receive ?

  • How do I calibrate my machine with mach3

    In Mach3, go to the Settings Tab, and select "Set Steps Per Unit". It will ask you how far to move the machine. Before you do this, make a mark on the table exactly where the end mill is resting. You can do this by lowering the end mill until it touches the material, then spinning it by hand to cut a small dimple in the material. Then, raise the end mill to clear the material, and assign a distance to move the machine. Once the machine moves and stops, measure the exact distance that it actually traveled with a tape measure, and enter this value into the dialog box that asks how far it moved. Mach3 will automatically adjust your steps per unit for that axis to be more accurate. Do this for all axes often to ensure you are cutting accurately. The longer distances you use calibrate, and the more precise you are with your measurements, the better.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I calibrate my machine with mach3

  • HOW DO I SQUARE MY CNC MACHINE OR GANTRY?

    I use a standard large "L" square used in construction. I run gantry up and down with the bit along one side of the square to make the square aligned with the x-axis. I then run the bit along the other edge and if I see space from the edge of the bit to the square, I adjust the gantry square by loosening and tightening the eye bolts that hold the chain at the ends of the table. Repeat as necessary to get the desired square.

    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HOW DO I SQUARE MY CNC MACHINE OR GANTRY?

  • How do I enter tax exemption for my order?

    Dealing with Tax Exemption forms, please refer to contacting us at customerservice@buildyourcnc.com

    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I enter tax exemption for my order?

  • how do I get the status of my order?

    If you are needing a status of an order that you purchased from us, you can either log-in and click on the "My Account" link at the top, or call us at 281-815-7701.

    The "My Account" link will contain all of the orders and tracking numbers associated with those orders. If the order does not contain a tracking number, call us to get a status of the order. In most cases, we will call you first if there is a backorder in our inventory.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    how do I get the status of my order?

  • How long does it take to receive the CamBam license I ordered? I purchased it yesterday 1/30/18

    I will check

    Additional Information:
    The license was purchased and the developer is sending you the license shortly.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How long does it take to receive the CamBam license I ordered? I purchased it yesterday 1/30/18

  • How do I connect my motor wires to the driver?

    Use the datasheet associated to the motor that you purchased. Use the bipolar parallel configuration to optimum performance. The datasheets are located in their respective motor product pages. Just click on the motion electronics at the left and scroll down to the motor you have and click on the title, or datasheet link next to the motor. The datasheet will either be in the form of a pdf, or within the instructions on that product page.

    Additional Information:
    wiring diagram



    Additional Information:


    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I connect my motor wires to the driver?

  • HOW DO I SET UP MY MOTOR DRIVERS?

    blueChick:

    X-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/16 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 11001100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1422.22 steps/in

    Y-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/16 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 11001100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1422.22 steps/in

    Z-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/4 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 10101100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1600 steps/in

    blackToe:

    X-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/16 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 11001100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1422.22 steps/in

    Y-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/16 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 11001100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1422.22 steps/in

    Z-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/4 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 10101100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1600 steps/in

    blackFoot:

    X-axis
    “CW8060 (6.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/16 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 11001100 (“0”=down, “1”=up)
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 914.29 steps/in

    Y-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/16 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 11001100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1422.22 steps/in

    Z-axis
    “CW230 (3.0A) Driver”
    Set to 1/4 Microstep, 2.7A
    Dipswitches: 10101100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1600 steps/in

    greenBull:

    X-axis
    “CW8060 (6.0A) Driver”
    Set to 5.43A, 1/16 Microstep
    Dipswitches: 01100110 (“0”=down, “1”=up)
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 914.29 steps/in

    Y-axis
    “CW8060 (6.0A) Driver”
    Set to 5.43A, 1/16 Microstep
    Dipswitches: 01100110
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 914.29 steps/in

    Z-axis
    “CW8060 (6.0A) Driver”
    Set to 5.43A, 1/4 Microstep
    Dipswitches: 01100100
    Mach3 Motor Tuning: 1600 steps/in

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HOW DO I SET UP MY MOTOR DRIVERS?

  • How do I wire my cnc electronics?

    Yes, you can send your electronics to us for repair, or retrofit to work with either Mach3, Mach4 or LinuxCNC. You can send us an email at customerService@buildyourcnc.com to set up your appointment.

    Some of the types of CNC electronics we will consider.

    - We will work on electronics from other manufacturers as long as you are ok with the Mach3, Mach4 or LinuxCNC control software for your CNC machine or CNC router.

    - We will repair or retrofit used CNC electronics.

    - Some customers find that electronics are overwhelming to put together so we will finish these electronics wiring and assembly for you.

    The cost for these includes labor cost for the time it takes to finish the CNC electronics repair or retrofit and for any parts that need to be replaced or added.

    Here is an example of CNC electronics that we worked on for a customer:



    This is the type of response that you can expect to receive after the CNC electronics are repaired or retrofitted to work under Mach3, Mach4 or LinuxCNC. You can see the entire work, which also shows the time involved. We also show what we were able to accomplish at the beginning of the video.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I wire my cnc electronics?

  • HOW DO I MAKE MY MACHINE SQUARE?

    I use a standard large "L" square used in construction. I run gantry up and down with the bit along one side of the square to make the square aligned with the x-axis. I then run the bit along the other edge and if I see space from the edge of the bit to the square, I adjust the gantry square by loosening and tightening the eye bolts that hold the chain at the ends of the table. Repeat as necessary to get the desired square.

    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HOW DO I MAKE MY MACHINE SQUARE?

  • How do I control stepper motors from my computer?

    All you need is a CNC controller like the following options:

    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board

    This controller is easy to connect using standard wire screw terminals and works with the mach3 control software.

    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

    This controller is a little bit more difficult to connect, but is a more feature-rich controller and will work with both mach3 and mach4 CNC control software titles.

    Specifically, a CNC controller connects to the computer via a USB cable and connects to the motor drivers. These controllers also connect to the limit switches, spindle/router control, air/fluid/mist control, etc.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I control stepper motors from my computer?

  • HOW DO I CALIBRATE MY MACHINE?

    In Mach3, go to the Settings Tab, and select "Set Steps Per Unit". It will ask you how far to move the machine. Before you do this, make a mark on the table exactly where the end mill is resting. You can do this by lowering the end mill until it touches the material, then spinning it by hand to cut a small dimple in the material. Then, raise the end mill to clear the material, and assign a distance to move the machine. Once the machine moves and stops, measure the exact distance that it actually traveled with a tape measure, and enter this value into the dialog box that asks how far it moved. Mach3 will automatically adjust your steps per unit for that axis to be more accurate. Do this for all axes often to ensure you are cutting accurately. The longer distances you use calibrate, and the more precise you are with your measurements, the better.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HOW DO I CALIBRATE MY MACHINE?

  • How do I setup a raid for my hard drives on Ubuntu?

    1) Make sure to setup Primary partition:

    Primary
    Beginning of this space
    Ext4
    Mount point: /
    and Swap partition:

    Logical
    Beginning of this space
    Swap area using "Something Else"

    2) get and install updates and upgrades

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get upgrade

    3) get raid software

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install mdadm

    4) setup RAID

    a) if raids haven't been setup:
    sudo mdadm --create /dev/md0 --chunk=256 --level=0 --raid-devices=2 /dev/sda /dev/sdb

    b) if raids are setup, but just have to be reassembled:
    sudo mdadm --assemble /dev/md0 /dev/sda /dev/sdb

    or

    mdadm --assemble --scan

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I setup a raid for my hard drives on Ubuntu?

  • What interface or breakout board do I need for Mach4?

    You can find the cnc machine interface board here that works with Mach4:
    https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

    This board will work with Mach3 and Mach4. The board is filled with a wealth of options and features, including the ability to connect up to 8 axes (motor drivers), pendant, LCD, many outputs and inputs, separate pins for limit switches , 2 relays, Ethernet and USB interfacing.

    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    What interface or breakout board do I need for Mach4?

  • How do I change my password on your site for logging in

    To change your password, you will need to go to the log-in page (top of screen, left hand side) and enter your username in the password reset section.
    You will receive a temporary password via email to log-in and change your password.

    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I change my password on your site for logging in

  • I purchased license for Mach3 yesterday. When do I receive download instructions and key?

    I will check

    Additional Information:
    The license was purchased and the developer is sending you the license shortly.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I purchased license for Mach3 yesterday. When do I receive download instructions and key?

  • How do I start my cnc

    I use a standard large "L" square used in construction. I run gantry up and down with the bit along one side of the square to make the square aligned with the x-axis. I then run the bit along the other edge and if I see space from the edge of the bit to the square, I adjust the gantry square by loosening and tightening the eye bolts that hold the chain at the ends of the table. Repeat as necessary to get the desired square.

    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How do I start my cnc

  • how do I connect my spindle to mach3 so mach3 can control it

    It is not necessary to connect the spindle VFD (Variable Frequency Drive also called an Inverter) to the computer or CNC motion electronics. The VFD can be controlled independently using the control panel on the VFD. The control panel has the ability to control all aspects of the spindle including Speed, Torque, limits, etc. However, you can connect the VFD to the computer so the CNC control program can control the spindle during the CNC Machine operation. You will need to connect the VFD to the computer via a serial conection (in this case, it is the RS-485 protocol).

    The following are instructions on how to connect the VFD to Mach3 via this RS-485 serial connection.

    The first thing you will need is the dynamic link library to pair with mach3 called the Huanyang VFD Mach3 PlugIn. You can find this file at the mach3 support forum here: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,14182.0.html

    You will also need to download the Microsoft .net 3.5 framework and install it: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21

    Follow the pdf that comes with the library file, but here is a synopsis of what you need to do (I also added a lot more information that may be useful during this process as the manual does not cover the main connections that need to be done):

    You will need to program your VFD so that it knows how to communicate with mach3 and the computer (go into the programming mode of the VFD and change these parameters):
    - PD001 - value 2 - Enables with communication aspect of the VFD
    - PD002 - value 2 - Enables frequency control from the communcations port
    - PD163 - value 1 - VFD address
    - PD164 - value 1 - Baud rate of 9600 (speed of the communication)
    - PD165 - value 3 - 8N1 RTU - 8 bits (that's the size of the word that gets communicated), N (No parity or no error checking) and 1 (1 stop bit)

    Copy the dll file to the PlugIns folder of mach3.

    Connect the RX and TX lines to your computer. There are a couple ways you can do this, but the recommended way would be to use an FTDI USB device which converts a USB to a serial com port. The device will have Rx and Tx connectors to connect to the VFD terminals with the same labels. This method is recommended since serial ports are not as common in computers these days.

    Next, you will need to configure mach3 to use the plugin library. Start mach3 and click on Menu -> config ->Config Plugins. Enable the new plugin by clicking on the red cross on the left column next to the plug in. Restart mach3 after doing this.

    No you need to configure mach3 to use the HuanyangVFD plugin. Go to the ports & pins configuration and select the spindle setup tab. Make sure that the Disable Spindle Relays checkbox is unchecked. We don't want mach3 to output a signal for a relay since the spindle will start up and turn off within the VFD and not from an external relay.

    Next, go to the HuanyangVFD settings by clicking on Menu -> plugin control -> HuanyangVFD. Set the parameters to the same settings you put into the VFD programming. The com port will be shown as new hardward when you plug in the USB FTDI device. A little bubble will be displayed at the bottom right where it will notify you that a new device is being installed (be patient while windows assigns a com port). Alternatively, you can use the windows device manager to see which port was set for the new USB FTDI device). You may need to restart mach3 several times until you get the correct information displayed in the PD001 and PD002 fields. When the com port is correct and the other parameters, like baud and VFD address is the same as you entered in the programming, then the PD001 and PD002 will show the number 2, otherwise, a 99 will appear which means that communication was not successful.

    You can now control the on/off and RPM of the spindle using the RS485 communication between mach3 and the VFD.

    Additional Information:
    The question was how to connect the spindle to the redfy. I did not receive a VFD.
    I have the redFly system and a 2.2kW Spindle - 110V how do i connect the spindle?

    Additional Information:
    If you received a spindle without a VFD, please contact us asap. Our spindle will not work without a VFD.

    Additional Information:
    Hi, how is this setup in mach4?

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    how do I connect my spindle to mach3 so mach3 can control it

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