Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: USB controls 4 steppers

Daniel,

I didn't want to deal with figuring out how to write a driver for
Mach3 for USB (and I didn't want to pay $159 for Mach3), so instead I
wrote my own g-code interpreter, that could talk directly to the library
(DLL on Windows) you use to talk to the USB chip. I also wanted to see
how complicated it was to write a g-code interpreter!

I used the HobbyCNC kit (4-axis, $99) as the motor driver. The USB
assembly from dlpdesign was about $35 (2 8-bit channel version).

Nowadays, I am experimenting with an even lower cost solution --
using a PIC, I can do USB and the PIC can itself drive the steppers (I
am not using the chopper features of the HobbyCNC kit anyway, and so
it's simpler and cheaper to use direct MOSFET drive.) And, I put the
g-code interpreter into the PIC, too (I still don't want to pay for all
the features of Mach3 that I won't use!). So far, for what I want to do
(a CNC router), I think this approach will work nicely.

Tony,

DeskCNC provides the serial-port-to-step/direction board (about $125),
and then you also need a step/direction-to-stepper-motor board (like
HobbyCNC, about $99 for the kit), and the DeskCNC software is about
$250. To drive the serial port controller board from USB, you'll also
need a USB-to-serial port adaptor (about $20-25 from dlpdesign). This
should work pretty well, too.

Mike

Tony Jeffree wrote:

> There's already a serial port-based controller that can be driven
> from a USB port - its called DeskCNC.
>
> Regards,
> Tony
>
> At 13:46 10/08/2007, you wrote:
>
>>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Mike Pogue <mpogue@...> wrote:
>>
>>>I have done something very similar, using the same USB-to-FIFO
>>
>>converter
>>
>>>in "bit bang" mode, but connected to a HobbyCNC board. It works pretty
>>>well.
>>>
>>
>>Mike, I'm trying to build an usb output board for Mach3.
>>What software did you used to drive you're steppers ?
>>Can you share the solution ?
>>
>>Daniel