Re: Pico VS IMService???

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "kdntool" <kdntool@c...>
wrote:

> I am interested in a real world comparison between Pico's universal
> stepper board used with EMC, and IMService's deskCNC w/ thier
> controller card. I am looking from a machine controller aspect ie
> assuming I did not need the "drawing import" functionality of
> deskCNC.I am currently using EMC and a homemade "breakout board".

Ken, You are trying to compare Apples and Oranges. The two are not
directly comparable. DeskCNC is a Controller system, including
controller and cam software, step and direction hardware, breakout
board, port interface. That's what you get and there are no options
to that part of it. It costs $325, complete. It runs on Windows
only and most any dumpster PC with Windows will work just fine.

The DeskCNC step rates are above 40,000 hz, which is plenty fast for
hobby CNC mills, and gets good results up to about 100 ipm on router
type machines cutting 3D surfaces at fine resolution with smooth
contouring. It supports 4 axis application.

DeskCNC is designed to serve the hobby market, and the desktop
machines at that. It just coincidentaly happens to work pretty well
for larger machines using Gecko or Rutex drivers. That, however, is
not the target customer.

The board includes TTL level outputs for Spindle direction and stop,
Flood and Mist coolant and off, and a PWM for spindle speed control.

It also includes a contact probe connection and integrated probing
software for surface measurement and recording directly into an STL
file. (Probe device is optional)

Other connections include limit switches and e-stop.

Fred Smith - IMService