RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Beginners software

Sounds like a reasonably easy project.
First question is do you have any programming experience and if so in what
language. I would attack this project with a PIC controller (
www.microchip.com ) as they are low cost and I am familiar with them. You
have your choice of programming them in assembler (efficient in regard to
code space, but very time consuming for the novice) or in the higher level
language of C or Basic. Unless you are experienced in C I would suggest you
look to Basic. I have been using a product called PICBasic Pro by Micro
Engineering Labs (www.MELabs.com). It is a good product, but a little pricey
with a crappy upgrade system and no IDE. I have just started playing with a
new PIC Basic compiler caller LETBasic (www.letbasic.com). It is a
developing compiler that is road mapped to have best of class features by
summer. Currently it is quite usable and best of all is low cost and easy to
use with a nice integrated environment. They also have a limited but nice
demo version you can download from the LETBasic site. If I was a hobbyist
buying today I would likely go for LETBasic.

If you want to play with this in one of these compilers and need some help
feel free to contact me directly.

Tim
[Denver, CO]
timg@...

> Greetings,
>
> I have been toying with microcontrollers with the idea of being able
> to control a drilling machine I created.
>
> It is designed to drill into shafts, so there is only X and Z axis,
> no Y axis.
>
> Can someone recomend a beginners software to let me control a couple
> of Stepper motors, set some limit switches and control some solenoids
> to lock the part in postions?
>
> My experiance is much more mechanical than electical. I'm just
> starting out.
>
> It seems there is a higly involved milling, tool path, type of
> software but not a simple package.
>
> Any help/suggestions are appreciated.
>
> Dave
>
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