Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] USB options ...

Hi Folks,

If you need higher step speeds than a parallel port can deliver Mesa
boards work with linuxCNC very well. Same price range as many of the
USB step generators for use with Mach 3.

Mach 4 will have some parallel port support, but is intended for use
with external step generation hardware, so if lower end parallel port
based CNC is important to you plan on using linuxCNC.

Mach 4 isn't shipping yet, so this is based on talking with the folks
who are developing it at Cabin Fever and speaking with friends in the
hardwire side of the business. The final ship version may have more or
zero parallel support, we'll find out when it happens :-)

Best to all,
Stan

On 06/18/2014 06:23 AM, Malcolm Parker-Lisberg mparkerlisberg@...
[CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] wrote:

> Lester
>
>
> As long as parallel printer port cards are available, then use LinuxCNC. The big advantage is it does not use windows operating systems. The user base is wide and responsive. The starting point is to find a motherboard with low latency so you get the fastest response possible. More I/O just add a £3 parallel printer card. Servo motor, do it in firmware or add a proprietary external board. The HAL, (hardware application level instructions) are script like. A set up wizard gets you started. Add a couple of lines and you have PWM motor control, a few more and its closed loop three term feed forward control. A few more and the spindle is synced to the axis. The document reference page is <http://linuxcnc.org/docs/html/>
> If you have an old desktop PC with a parallel port, download the CD rom and give it a try.
> It does take some getting used to as you tend to mix up the commands with windoze functions.
>
>
> Malcolm
>
>
> I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!
>
> Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin
> The writing is on the wall.
> Ha-ktovet al ha-kir