Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Newbie: Which card would be suitable 5I23 or 5I20

Alps Technologies wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am in the process to build an independent CNC controller for used milling
> and lathe machines; for the purpose I have decided to work on EMC2 (as
> adviced earlier in the group).
>
> At the hardware-end I am confused to select the card that shall work for
> some time. On the mesa-electronics website I saw different cards that are
> supported by EMC2 and I selected 5I23 but when I contacted the Mesa
> they told me that the linux driver is in development phase and would be
> available in a week (not sure if it would be tested enough to use for end
> product).
>
> Can anyone please guide me if I should wait for the driver to come o better
> use 5I20. I just need a motion control card that should be able to work for
> used machines of multiple axis.

There is also the Pico Systems products, for step/direction, PWM
or analog control of the motor drive. They all use the parallel
port. Although this is disappearing from the latest computers,
you can still install a parallel port card in the computer.

The EMC driver has been around since 2001, and a vastly superior
driver was created for EMC2, mostly by John Kasunich. These
controllers have the input and output hardware built in, so you
don't need additional breakout boards and SSR mounting boards.

See http://jelinux.pico-systems.com/motion.html for more info
on these products.

Jon