Re: USB or Ethernet machine control

Chris,

Well, there's a guy on the TurboCNC list doing this - building a
serial comms function into the program for one computer and a windows
front end into another.

I think it's a good system, as in general simply needs to load
program "X" on one machine, "X prime" on the other and connect them
via serial cable. This avoids the main problems of specialized
boxes, which are upgrading the firmware and getting one
fixed/replaced if the manufacturer goes out of business or decides
not to support them anymore. It introduces a few new failure modes,
but by and large those can be managed through clever design.

I don't think pulse rates are a big constraint on hobby CNC systems
really, at least not big enough to go to the extreme of a
microcontroller for the slave.

Dave Kowalczyk
Everett WA

>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., ccs@m... wrote:
> <snip> PS - one idea that may have some merit is using an old pc as
> the slave
> > box. Many of us favor open systems design, and that is a lot

harder

> > to accomplish with anything that has a hardware component unless

the

> > necessary hardware is readily available to everyone.