But one that I have not seen much conversation over, the drivers. Obviously a 32bit controller if set up right can be faster, have massive buffers, and other advanced built in tools. I know for sure that the current version of Marlin supports several CNC commands, but how standard is this and would it require much alteration to work with common CNC or laser software? Allowing users to operate just about any kind of configuration, be it Laser, Pen, Knife, Spindle, Router, or even multi head 3D tooling: Would I be mistaken in thinking that Laser based controllers are specialized for use in laser systems only? But that a CNC controller can be reconfigured for used with a laser also, just as it can be reconfigured for use with just about any tool head, spindle or router?ĭevelopers like Duet and Marlin seem interested in becoming a jack of all, master of none. Also what exactly is its most advanced form? Some day it doesn’t work on 32bit, and other places I have read it does? I would like to understand better about this firmware before discounting it. I have not found a specific source, a developer home page. Also I have read that Mach3 controllers can be controlled by more than just Mach3… So without having both types in front of me to tinker with I am more than a little confused. Yet, Mach3 supports many controller types, including GRBL. I understand that Mach3 based are configured for optimal control by Mach3 as a software controller, and in some cases are able to use pendants with Mach3. Similarly The so called Mach3 controllers are slaves.

I have read that GRBL, for the most part is like M2 on the laser side, being a slave. I see on the CNC side there is GRBL, GRBL-LCP, GRBL-DSP, GRBL1.1, and Mach3. Ruida was described as closed source all in one stand alone complete with image processing and gcode extrapolation. I have read a post conversation by the Admin where M2 was described as little more than a direct slave. What else is there? I would like to expand this. Save for those of us jumping in the deep end having no idea what is going on… I have done a lot of digging, found some good information, but need to tie it all together now. What I have not found is any sort of chart that makes easy comparison, as if every one already knew all there was to know. Some specialized, and some closed source.

Mach3 software hacks