Hi,I’m working on a project where I already use a MACH3 control card for a CNC machine, which runs on a dedicated PC. I’d like to integrate the AR4 robot into the same setup.
Do I need to keep the AR4 robot continuously connected to the PC to run programs (similar to how MACH3 operates)? Or is it possible to upload the program to the robot and run it independently without maintaining a constant PC connection?
I’m trying to avoid using two separate PCs if possible.
Thanks in advance for your help!
The AR4 robot does require a continuous connection to the PC running the AR4 software while executing motion programs—similar to how MACH3 operates. The robot controller (Teensy 4.1) executes real-time motor control, but the motion planning, sequencing, and user interface logic are handled by the AR4 GUI on the PC.
At this time, there is no offline program upload capability where the robot can run independently of the PC once a program is started.
As for running both MACH3 and the AR4 GUI on the same PC:
We have not encountered any critical conflicts, but here are a few important considerations:
Resource Usage: Both programs are relatively light, but ensure the PC has sufficient RAM and CPU headroom (especially if you’re using Windows with other background services).
Serial Port Conflicts: The AR4 communicates over a USB serial COM port. As long as MACH3 is not trying to use the same COM port (unlikely unless you're using a USB motion controller for MACH3), there should be no interference.
Real-Time Demands: MACH3 sometimes requires elevated real-time priority when running on older LPT-based motion cards. This could affect AR4 GUI responsiveness if not managed carefully. If you’re using an external motion controller (e.g., SmoothStepper), this is less of a concern.
Please let me know if you have any other questions I can help with.
