Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Looking for Micro Kinetics Port configuration

The optistep is a glorified parallel port with an on-board clock and limited
profiling firmware. It has no ramping in jog mode, works only with MK's
proprietary software (or driver routine) and outputs a very noisy signal.
Also, the ramping rate changes with changes in feedrate override due to a
bug in the firmware. Maximum output frequency is claimed at about 16KHz,
though I have had one up to about 20KHz without a crash.

MK's CNC software for the optistep is nice. The combination seems to work OK
with small motors but is virtually useless with large step motors due to the
lack of ramping in jog mode. At $700 for the board and software you have
many better options. I had to send my Driverack system back three times.
Finally ended up fixing it myself. In the end I sold the board/software and
gutted the driverack. It's components are now driven by CNCPro, which is a
little more clumsy than the MK software but ten times more functional, since
I'm not constrained by the optistep board.

The port address is assignable through a switch, like a Metrabyte or similar
DAS board. I have the pinout diagram somewhere if you want it. The pinout
order is not a lot different than a parallel port - not surprising. As for
MK's claim about performance, it may have been true six years ago, but they
haven't improved it much since then. The promise of a windows version of
MillMaster never materialized. Limitations of the optistep (and it's
inherent bugs) probably killed that project. I'm guessing they decided to
let the optistep fade off to a slow death because Maurice Khano (MK's owner)
is putting most of his efforts into a different board now. It still hasn't
materialized either after two years.

Their price on new motors is good and they sell the same motor as Anaheim
Automation. I had to send three of them back for replacement though.
Possibly just bad luck.

I guess you could say I was not happy with the whole affair. I usually
don't say such bad things when I'm not constipated, but MicroKinetics iced
the cake (and my butt) when they refused to honor their "satisfaction
guaranteed or your money back" guarantee and left me with about $4,000 worth
of unsatisfactory equipment.

Doug Harrison

> "The OptiStep Plus is a high performance, low cost 4-axis motion control
> card for IBM PC/XT/AT compatible computers. Optically isolated control

lines

> provide step and direction output signals, high and low limit switch

inputs,

> current reduction outputs, and a feed hold input. "
>
> Looking for the port address and the bit assignments for this card sold by
> MicroKinnetics. Anyone know what it is?
>
> Anyone on the list using it? I think it is the controller used by
> Torchmate.com?
>
> Best Regards
>
> Dennis
>