Gooday.
Trying to get mach3 to work with shark cnc.
I already have built a hobby cnc parallel machine that is working nicely.
I understand parallel port patching.
I am using a separate xp computer just for the nc pod/shark setup.
I have loaded ncpod driver and plugin formach 3.

They talk sort of.
It looks like x is y, y is x and z down is z up.  Im told 1600 steps per rev accel of 15. Any other setup details?
I cant seem to find a simple patch panel to swap step and direction that works with the pod.
I dont have a detailed table of step and direction and other patches for the ncpod/shark.
Does anyone have a set of screen dumps of setting up mach3 shark combo?

Any good threads on this?

Thanks Peter

loaded ncpod driver latest from oemtech
loads ok and talks to shark cnc from mach3

loaded update nc pod firmware (2031)
ran updater.
Error code ncPOD not found.
How do I update the firmware?

Thanks Peter.

I have a cnc shark which uses a NC pod.

I want to use it with mach3 and also basic control panel.

I run two different classes that use different software.

I see there is a usb driver for mach 3 called ncpod usb driver

I see there is a firmware installer (v2031) for mach 3.

Is it a matter of changing drivers to suit mach3 and basic control panel?

Or are there two firmware installers that are mutually exclusive?

Can I swap between firmware versions easily? If so how?

If I have two different pcs one with mach3 and drivers and the other with basic control ad drivers will that work?

Thanks Peter.

Peter

It seems that there is two different ncPod firmwares.  The firmware that comes loaded with the CNCshark and the v2031 (Mach version) from the OEMtech site.

The v2031 has a dedicated firmware loader.  I am not sure how you would restore the CNCshark firmware as I see no loader for it.

I emailed OEMtech with this question a couple of weeks ago,

There is a firmware installer for the Mach compatible firmware.

Is there a similar installer to reapply the "NCpod Basic Control Panel" firmware?

I received no reply.

Greg

I have just installed the "new" Shark control panel with the touch probe. Works in the Shark control panel. I cannot talk to Mach3 with the Shark driver in place. Will try to reinstall Mach3 drivers and see if that let's me talk to the Shark. I had the Shark working with the shark drivers up till the new control panel install and allowing it to install usb drivers.
will post more later
Doc

With the Shark Pro updated firmware to version 61 and the updated shark control panel to version 10 (last digits of the revision numbers) Mach 3 no longer communicates with the Shark/NcPod controller.
hope someone writes a updated mach3 driver otherwise mach3 is useless.
Doc

As far as I understand it is either one or the other. 

Mach3 or the Shark Control panel.  They use different NCpod firmware.

For me it would be a no brainer. 

I could not imagine trying to run a CNC router with a control as limited as the Shark one.

But then I am familiar with Mach.  Been using it for some years.  You may have a different viewpoint. 

Greg