Re: PCI 4 axis step and direction board

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, tommy clay
<tclay_35117@y...> wrote:

> anybody know a good inexpensive PSI (can also use ISA)
> step and direction board for CNC?
>
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Ballendo is correct. If you want prior generation technology,
Microkinetics still sells a 4 axis step and direction ISA card
(Optistep); sold one a few months back to another list member. The
card is not cheap and you still need the motor control cards for
power. The only off-the-shelf software that will drive the
proprietry card is their software. If you don't like the
features...tough. I think they offer an API kit if you want to roll
your own.

The market has shifted and the primary method of doing low cost CNC
interfaces is to use a software program driving a PC parallel port.
For DOS take a look at TurboCNC. For Linux look at EMC. For
Windows (without external hardware) there is MACH2. For Windows
with external hardware there is DeskCNC and Flashcut. Each has
advantages/disadvantages as to features, cost and max speeds.

Wait a few more months and there will be Windows and the Gecko 2000
series running from USB. Its a "smart" external piece of hardware
that will make software controllers faster and better.

Hang around the lists and you quickly see what most of us are using.