Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Controllers

Mike,

To star with, go to the www.geckodrive.com web page and download their white
paper. It is a good starting point.

Then go to my web page www.campbelldesigns.com and download the information
on my breakout board.

The answer is that you will need a control box with a power supply and some
way to breakout the wires from the parallel port. In Mach2 you will assign
which pins are used for various functions like step and direction signals
that go to the Gecko drives.

It is fairly simple once you see the big picture. Mach2 on one parallel
port can support four gecko drives. They are not daisy chain together, but
receive their step and direction signals from different pins on the parallel
port.

In your windows XP PC you will use your standard parallel port and if you
need additional outputs you can install a PCI parallel port card. In your
case the parallel port on you PC should be all that you will need.

If you need more help please let me know.

Bob Campbell
Bob@...
www.campbelldesigns.com
Breakout board
THC board sets
CNC router plans
Stepper Motors

----- Original Message -----
From: "mpkunz" <mpkunz@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Controllers


> 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.
> >From what you're saying, Gecko's get connected to a printer cable ? How
do
> I connect 4 Geckos to one printer cable, or do they daisychain together ?
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Don Rogers" <Don@...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:09 PM
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Controllers
>
>
> > At 04:27 PM 3/18/2004 +0000, you wrote:
> > >I have the mill essentially set up. So I guess what I need are the
> following:
> > >
> > >o power supply to supply the 4 Geckos
> > >o 4 Geckos
> > >o 4 servo motors
> > >o 4 encoders
> > >o Drawing software
> > >o some kind of card to insert into the motherboard on my PC
> > >o software to run the card inserted in the motherboard
> > >
> > >Am I missing anything ?
> >
> > Yep
> >
> > You need a CAM software to get from the drawing to the machine. Try
> > FreeMill, Ace Converter, Meshcam, or for simple building block parts,
> > GenGcode. These will all translate the drawings to the Gcode needed to
> > drive the software controlling the Geckos, or other drivers. Although
you
> > still need to do some text editor work with their output to make sure
you
> > have a usable file. None of these are four axis converters though. To
> > get to that step, dig out the check book and make sure it is full.
> >
> > I'm not sure what card you are referring to. Most PC's have a printer
> port
> > built in. Use it.
> >
> > Don
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Addresses:
> > FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> > FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> > Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> >
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> > URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> >
> > OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> > If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
> aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to reach it
if
> you have trouble.
> > http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
> >
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this to be a
> sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are there, for
OT
> subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
> >
> > NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY POSTING THEM.
> DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
> > bill
> > List Mom
> > List Owner
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> Addresses:
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>
> Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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timg@...
> Moderator: pentam@... indigo_red@... davemucha@...
[Moderators]
> URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
>
> OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to reach it if
you have trouble.
> http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this to be a
sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are there, for OT
subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
>
> NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY POSTING THEM.
DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
> bill
> List Mom
> List Owner
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>