Make a note of all machine signals, including limit switches, home switches, drive enable, fault signals, E-stop, etc. Also record the axis drive parameters such as steps per unit, velocity limits, and acceleration values.
Then, create a new profile in simCNC and configure all signals and motion parameters accordingly.
In the drive settings, SimCNC also requires an additional parameter called “jerk” (in mm/s³), as it supports an S-curve velocity profile. A good starting value is around 50000 mm/s³.
More work may be necessary if your machine has many additional functions handled by macros. Mach3 macros are written in Visual Basic, while simCNC uses Python, so they cannot simply be copied and pasted. They need to be ported or rewritten for the new system.
However, if the machine does not have additional components, such as an ATC, then after configuring the I/O and drive parameters, you are practically ready to go. Even if some macros need to be ported, it is usually not as difficult as it may seem at first. Python is a modern language with many examples available online, and most macros are usually quite simple and contain only small logic. By carefully analyzing them and spending a little time learning the basics of Python, porting them becomes quite straightforward.
Make a note of all machine signals, including limit switches, home switches, drive enable, fault signals, E-stop, etc. Also record the axis drive parameters such as steps per unit, velocity limits, and acceleration values.
Then, create a new profile in simCNC and configure all signals and motion parameters accordingly.
In the drive settings, SimCNC also requires an additional parameter called “jerk” (in mm/s³), as it supports an S-curve velocity profile. A good starting value is around 50000 mm/s³.
More work may be necessary if your machine has many additional functions handled by macros. Mach3 macros are written in Visual Basic, while simCNC uses Python, so they cannot simply be copied and pasted. They need to be ported or rewritten for the new system.
However, if the machine does not have additional components, such as an ATC, then after configuring the I/O and drive parameters, you are practically ready to go. Even if some macros need to be ported, it is usually not as difficult as it may seem at first. Python is a modern language with many examples available online, and most macros are usually quite simple and contain only small logic. By carefully analyzing them and spending a little time learning the basics of Python, porting them becomes quite straightforward.
