Re: Controllers

Mike:

The Gecko drives require step and direction signals. The software
talked about here drives the parallel port signal lines to produce the
output the drives need. A breakout board or similiar wiring is used to
route the signal lines to the Gecko's. There are many breakout boards
available and you can make your own. For reference, look at Bob
Campbell's board to get a good idea of what you need.

http://www.campbelldesigns.com/

The software could be DOS based TurboCNC, Windows based Mach2 or Linux
based EMC. They all use the parallel port to drive Gecko's. The only
reason a new PC may not work is if it does not have a parallel port.
In that case you would have to add one.

Also, go to the Gecko web site and download the manual for the G320.
That's the drive for servos. The G201 is used for stepper motors. They
both want step and direction inputs.

http://www.geckodrive.com/

Ken

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "mpkunz" <mpkunz@f...> wrote:
> I don't know how the Geckos work. Isn't there a card that gets
inserted into
> one of the internal slots and runs the Geckos ? I was specifically
told a
> new PC was not going to work because it would not have internal card
slots.
>