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Warning

The current version of MillMage is a Release Candidate — a stable version of software that is nearly ready for official release, but in need of additional public testing. Please report any unexpected behavior in the MillMage Software Questions section of our forum, including screenshots and as much detail as possible. Ask hardware compatibility questions in the MillMage Hardware Compatibility section.

Users new to MillMage should follow the Getting Started guide.

Video: How to Use a Release Candidate

This video features our sister software, LightBurn. While there may be slight differences in appearance and layout, the demonstrated processes are similar in MillMage.

Warning

This documentation is in active development and in a prerelease state. These documents are not complete and may include missing pages, broken links, and placeholders. Content is being updated as feedback is reviewed. Your patience is appreciated.

USB Cables

If you're connecting over USB, cable problems can be a frustrating problem to solve. The steps below may help you identify and solve problems. If you're not sure what type of USB port or connector you have, please compare the shape to the diagram below.

Diagram of common USB connectors

Common USB connector styles used on computers and CNC machines

Check Your USB Cable

  • Try upgrading to a higher quality USB cable, especially if you're using a cable that came with your CNC machine or other devices. The shielding in a good USB cable prevents electrical interference with the signals between your CNC machine and your computer. Low cost USB cables, including many of the ones supplied with consumer devices, often have inadequate shielding
  • USB cables are limited to 3 meters (16 feet) long. If you need a longer cable, look into active USB extenders or alternate methods of connecting to your CNC machine.

USB C Cable Problems

More on USB C Cable Problems

The USB C connectivity of some devices isn't built to industry standards, which can cause connection issues when trying to connect directly with a USB C to USB C cable. These devices require a USB A to USB C cable. If you don't have a USB A port on your computer, you can use a USB A to C adapter/dongle or a USB hub to connect a USB A cable to the computer.

If your device came with a USB A to USB C cable and you're having connection problems with a USB C to C cable, try a USB A to USB C cable instead. This is due to a hardware limitation of some devices. There's a more detailed explanation of the problem in the info box to the right.

Try A Different USB Port

USB ports can occasionally fail, even without physical damage. If your computer has multiple USB ports, try plugging into a different USB port and see if that makes a difference.

Windows: Check Power Management Settings

If you're on a Windows computer and find that you can connect over USB but the connection fails after a while, you may need to adjust your power management settings

For more help using MillMage, please visit our forum to talk with MillMage staff and users, or email support.