Mach 3 Based CNC Control Kits - Frequently Asked Questions

Please find below answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding AjaxCNC's Mach 3 CNC kits. For more information and pricing, please see our Mach 3 Based CNC Control Kits page.

1. How are AjaxCNC's Mach kits different from other competing products?
2. Which of the two kit configurations is right for my project?
3. Do AjaxCNC's Mach control kits accept Step and Direction?
4. What are the system requirements for the PC that I will need?
5. What are the power requirements of the kit components? Will AjaxCNC's Mach kits work outside the USA?
6. What drives will work with the "3rd party drive kit"?
7. Do you have servo motors and encoders for sale?
8. What accessories are available for use with AjaxCNC's Mach kits?

How are AjaxCNC's Mach kits different from other competing products?

• AjaxCNC provides a dedicated, stand-alone digital signal processor, just like "real" CNC systems use. Other competing Mach systems rely on your PC's internal processor, which often results in hesitant or unreliable motion any time your PC "hiccups" during a job.
• Our kits utilize an Ethernet connection for true two-way communication – this enables Mach software to receive real-time position feedback, instead of simply guessing at and assuming the position of your machine.
• AjaxCNC provides pre-configured PLC functions for items such as limits and coolant wherever possible so you can be up and running quickly.
• Price – because we design and manufacture our components from the ground up, we can provide feature-rich CNC kits that are more affordable for the do-it-yourselfer.

Which of the two kit configurations is right for my project?

Please refer to the chart below:

	Kit With 3-Axis DC Servo Drive & PLC	Kit For 3rd Party Drives With PLC
Price	$1195 USD	$1195 USD
Servo motor type	DC	AC or DC
Servo motor size	Up to 40 in lb	Unlimited
Number of axes (standard)	3	4
Number of axes (expandable to)*	6	4
Number of encoder or scale inputs	6	6
General purpose I/O (standard)	30 In / 31 Out	16 In / 16 Out
General purpose I/O (expandable to)*	240 In / 240 Out	240 In / 240 Out
Included servo drives
Preconfigured I/O
Spindle control
Available operator's control panel/pendant*
Available digitizing touch probe*
Available MPG (manual pulse generator) handwheel*
Available auto tool length setter*

* Expandable features and accessories may require purchase of additional components. Prices and specifications are subject to change. Please refer to www.ajaxcnc.com for the latest pricing and information.

Do AjaxCNC's control kits accept Step and Direction?

AjaxCNC's kits replace and greatly improve on old "step and direction" parallel port systems. With true two-way Ethernet communication we provide the hardware required to eliminate "missed steps" and position errors.

In step and direction systems, there is no position feedback to your CNC software – the software can only command the movement and assume that the machine has responded accurately. The position displayed on the digital readout will always be an assumption – small errors and missed steps can compound over a job and waste material and time.

With our Ethernet-based communication, your CNC software (Mach3) is constantly receiving real position feedback during a job – the software commands a movement, the machine responds, and the software instantly gets feedback and displays the true position of the machine. What would be position errors in old step and direction systems are automatically corrected, before the next move is attempted.

What are the system requirements for the PC that I will need?

Generally speaking, any modern Windows computer that is capable of running Mach3 software will be adequate. (You should check the Mach3 software and hardware requirements.) Also note that because AjaxCNC's kits utilize an Ethernet connection to your PC, you may wish to obtain a second network/Ethernet card for simultaneous networking purposes.

What are the power requirements of the kit components? Will AjaxCNC's Mach kits work outside of the USA?

AjaxCNC Mach3 kit components include power supplies for logic circuitry which can accept 110 or 220 VAC. Standard 110v power cords with 3-prong grounded plugs are included by default. See chart below:

Component	Power Requirement
MPU11 Motion Controller	Included power supply accepts 85 to 260 VAC
DC3IOB Servo Drive & PLC	Includes a switchable power supply with 110 and 220 VAC settings for the logic circuitry. Incoming motor voltage supply requirement is 20v to 120v DC.*
GPIO4D Drive Interface & PLC	Included power supply accepts 85 to 260 VAC

*AC to DC power supply transformer kits and components are available through www.ajaxcnc.com.

What drives will work with the "3rd party drive kit"?

The kit for 3rd party drives will command any servo drive capable of accepting -10 to +10v.

Do you have servo motors and encoders for sale?

Yes, AjaxCNC does sell a range of servo motors with encoders pre-installed and ready to run! Click here.

What accessories are available for use with AjaxCNC's Mach kits?

Our Mach kits have been designed to support our digitizing touch probe, manual pulse generator (MPG) handwheel, operators control panel/pendant, and automatic tool length setter. These items as well as other components and accessories are available from the CNC accessories page.