Hi I'm looking for some recomendations on alternatives to Mach3 and Planet CNC. I'm new to the world of CNC, having just bought a chinese 3040 3 axis CNC mill, for some DIY and lightweight hobby stuff! I've done a few simple tests and am really pleased with the machine.

However, I need to decide what software to use. The machine came with Planet CNC and Mach3. Century arms l1a1 sporter markings.

Build your custom controller in minutes and save hours of tedious editing. Each module is built from CNC-machined aluminum for a precise fit and anodized for a durable yet. Connect it via USB and snap on other modules in any layout. Mar 24, 2018 - CNC motion controller is a link between personal computer and drivers for stepper motors. It uses a USB port which is available on all modern.

However looking into it more, I think the mach 3 software might be a cloned version. I initially assumed mach3 had now been made free or something (after all the parallel port is pretty out of date now!), but looking at people explaining how to crack it online, I guess not! I'm not comfortable using fake software, it's not fair on the developers, so I am looking elsewhere! I think the planet cnc is genuine, it came with a license, but I can't get it to work. I am thinking of using Linux CNC as an alternative, but not sure how I would setup the machine.

If I used the parallel port would the ports and pins settings be the same as for mach3? Just after some advice before I spin up a computer on linux! I'm looking for a genuinely free option, not some illegal copy. I'd be happy looking into paid versions later when I move on to more complex things, but I've just bought the machine, I'd like to get a little use out of it before I invest more! Any advice would be great!

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