Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] USB options ...

On 06/19/2014 05:44 AM, Stan Stocker skstocker@...
[CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> If you need higher step speeds than a parallel port can deliver Mesa
> boards work with linuxCNC very well.

Just as an alternative, Pico Systems also has a step
generator board. It
may be slightly more expensive than the Mesa when you add
all the
plug-in boards you need to the Mesa, but it is an all-in-one
solution
for up to 4 motion axes plus encoder inputs and digital I/O.
See :
<http://pico-systems.com/osc2.5/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=4&products_id=30>

Also, the Beagle Bone $55 CPU has some super-fast
microcontrollers
in it that can generate step pulses at a very high rate.
Not quite as
fast as an FPGA step generator like the Mesa or Pico Systems
board,
but way faster than software step generation from the
parallel port.
You can use this as the total controller, or just use it as
the motion
control, and have the screen/keyboard etc. on another computer.
Right now, the 3D preview window is a little sluggish as TI
has not
released a driver for the graphics hardware.

(I hope it is OK to plug my products once a year or so.)

Jon