Software for maxnc 10

[Geo42]

A friend let me borrow his maxnc 10 and he no longer has software for it. I read that it runs on a proprietary dos program. Is there anything that I can do with it?

 

[pontiac428]

What type of controller does it have? The machine probably runs on a parallel port if it originally was interfaced through DOS. It's likely you can configure Mach4 to run it, but it all comes down to the controller, so research that. If they made more than a few of those little CNC mills, you might find someone else's hard work to bootstrap your success.

 

[matthewsx]

I'd convert it to LinuxCNC. Controllers are cheap on Amazon and you'll be doing yourself (and your buddy) a favor. I was a young man with hair when DOS was a thing....

These guys agree: https://www.cnczone.com/forums/benchtop-machines/395534-cnc-software.html

John

 

[Geo42]

It does have a parallel port. I might try mach4 on a pc with a usb to parallel cord just to see if it will run it.

 

[pontiac428]

USB to parallel won't work because serial is asynchronous and parallel is synchronous. That requires a SmoothStepper module. You'll need a desktop PC with a parallel card or native port. A laptop might not work because laptop parallel TTL is 3.3v instead of the 5v standard.