MAC Software for MH871

[CWS 3]

It's been awhile since I posted anything, but I have come to a new problem. Ha!  My PC crashed and I am replacing it with a MAC.  Are there any software packages that run on a MAC OS?  What are the options.  I have VinylMaster LTR now, but my only option now is to run it under some kind of Win emulator.  Any suggestions?

TIA

CWS (Walt)

[haumana 1,228]

As far as I know, the MH871 will only run on Windows.  That being said, you can try using bootcamp, or VM Fusion/Parallels to run Windows and see if that'll work for you.

I was able to sucessfully run my LaserPoint (original) on Parallels and Fusion with Windows 7 & Windows 10, on my much older MacPro, but when that machine crapped out, I replaced with an M1 Apple, and while Windows will run via Fusion, the USB/COM Ports are not as easily configurable that's required to properly communicate between computer and cutter.

Truth be told, I gave up on that, and got myself a Graphtec, which I run with the very limited software that Graphtec has pushed out for on Mac.  I do most of my design in other software and just import to the cutting software.  If I need to cut stuff on my LaserPoint, I have an older Win7 machine that I fire up for that.

[slice&dice 2,469]

(MH machines "Not Suitable for MacOS" -- per the specs)

My advice, buy an old, obsolete fifty-dollar Dell or Toshiba laptop with legacy DB9 (serial) port, load it with VinylMaster and be happy.

OR, buy the SC2 or LP3 cutters and upgrade from that MH, and go with SureCutsALot on the mac.

[darcshadow 1,641]

You could probably use Inkscape/InkCut and the serial connection. I never understood why they say the MH don't work with MACs. You are talking to it through a serial connection, so long as you send the correct serial commands the cutter won't care what is talking to it.

[slice&dice 2,469]

Walt's Windows machine 'crapped out' which means he didn't get a chance to de-activate (unregister) the copy of his VinylMaster on that computer, and Walt now won't be able to re-install it on a cheapo Dell laptop anyway.

 

[MZ SKEETER 4,727]

It may still be possible to get it to fire up in  SAFE MODE F8 with Networking..  Not sure what crashed means to them. I have fixed some computers with the F8  and download, Bleeping Computer  ADWCLEANER.   I have had Blue screens etc. 

[Wildgoose 4,200]

Pretty sure someone was able to get the MH to run from a Mac on the forum. Been a few years back though. The biggest issue is probably more along the line of needing design software too. If you have a lot of time and are comfortable with trial and error I would use InkScape and InkCut. I wouldn't be surprised to find that InkCut may be behind the times with the newest Mac versions. I have never tried it out but saw on line that there were quite a few questions about trouble with version 12.?? and I'm already running 14.something. I design in Illustrator which makes me pay to use. I own an older CS5 version but as the upgrades came along it eventually didn't meet the more stringent controls and started having issues and crashing AI especially with font searches. 

For cutting I have an old windows laptop that I take my files to and cut from a thumb drive. My old old old SignCut Pro 1 software for cutting is cross platform compatible but I still cut from the Win 7 computer, mostly so I don't tie up my main workstation when the cutter is running. 

Personally I like slice&dice advice to find an old laptop on the cheap and use it with your software and cutter. 

[haumana 1,228]

I had no bites on this machine, and still have it.

https://forum.uscutter.com/index.php?/topic/59199-dell-vostro-1500-laptop/