Re: EMC and Taig w/ MicroProto and DeskCNC

Anders, again thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions.
{{You wrote: You can't use more than one of Mach, DeskCNC, or EMC at
the same time. There's no way to use the current EMC2 interpreter
from within Mach or DeskCNC.}}
The answer to my next question is probably no, given what you said
above. But, can EMC2 call the CNC interpreter G-code file from MACH
or DeskCNC? OR can I "put" the MACH or DeskCNC or VS-3D file G-code
file into EMC2? I would want to do this to be able to create a
variable information list ( names ) in G-code, in a EMC2 Do Loop to
engrave n=1 name on "nested" part 1, engrave n=2 name on "nested"
part 2, etc. I would also like to nest a sobroutine within the Do
Loop to center the variable width name on some defined X direction
coordinate.

{{My question: I guess I still don't know if Mach 3 or DeskCNC can
do Parametric Programming.
You wrote: I'm not sure about that. I believe that either one
allows you to write custom code in Visual Basic, or to call DLL
functions from your own code. I'm not sure how this integrates with
the motion controller in either.}}
I see that Fred Smith has posted a response, possibly to this
question. I'll have to see what he says.

{{My question: I guess I don't understand why someone would use EMC2
instead of DeskCNC or MACH 3. I guess DeskCNC and MACH 3 do all
kinds of administrative tasks (Windows programming, stepping motor
control, machining geometry (pockets, ... ) optimization, and many
things I don't even have a clue about. How does EMC2 do these
behind the scenes tasks?
You wrote: Well, I guess it depends on what operating system you're
using, how much you want to spend, and what hardware you want to
use. DeskCNC works only with their step generator board, as far as
I know. Mach works with several kinds of hardware for generic I/O,
and can now (or soon) use the G-Rex for step generation. As far as
I know, only the parallel port (and soon the G-Rex) can be used for
step output with Mach. EMC2 supports several types of hardware,
including parallel port step generation (like Mach), parallel, ISA,
or PCI connected step generator cards, and analog servo control
cards (and multiple kinds of hardware simultaneously). Note that
EMC is the only controller (for less than roughly $5000) that does
true closed loop motor control. If you're running Windows, then you
should choose Mach or DeskCNC (there are others as well, I
believe). There's also TurboCNC for DOS. If you want to run Linux,
or you want to use sometihng other than the parallel port / G-Rex /
DeskCNC controller, then use EMC.}}

I am using Windows XP, and use a printer cable from the PC to the
stepping motor controller electronics. Which I guess is parallel
port. The controller electronics have the DeskCNC card integrated
into it, and 4 axis Gecko drivers have been integrated into the
controller electronics. The controller electronics are from KDN
Tool, who did my mechanical, and electronics SIEG X2 CNC
conversion. It is the Pinacle Series electronics package.

Back to EMC - it seems that EMC can be "purchased by the pound".
What I mean by that is, as you mentioned that a version of EMC can
do true closed loop motor control, and that has a price associated
with that performance. You also mention that EMC is a controller -
do you mean that in a software sense, or in an electronics hardware
sense (power supply, stepping motor drivers, ...). I guess that
conceptually I don't understand what EMC is. Is it hardware,
software, or both? From what you have kindly said is that EMC runs
on Linux, and can run over something other than parallel port
(possibly USB).

I hope I havn't exasperated you with my questions, and thank you for
your candid answers.

Again thank you for your detailed replies.

Bill Perun