EMC2 - help..

Hello;

I have a small shopsmith that I want to use for CNC. I have attached
limit switches, stop switches, and stepper motors to the ways, and I
want to use EMC2 as the controller. I have a PC, with low latency for
it, and I've been reading though the documentation.

I've been looking at some of the controllers off ebay that hook up to
the parallel port (like item# 390093371945, or 150401620810 or
120510210398). The first two are simpler setups, and the last one is
microcontroller based.

I'm using NEMA 23 style motors, with an AC motor to drive the mill /
lathe. It's a hobby setup for a toy for me to play with, so cost is an
issue. I'm also not worried if it's slow, and I have to do some stuff
manually (like bit changing, and speed selection).

I've still got some questions though. It looks like you can run EMC2
off a parallel port, but I can't find any hookup diagrams.

Do I need to hook up a motor controller box as well as the parallel
port card, or should I get one of the more expensive PCI based cards?

What software do you guys use to make a model, and then translate it
into the gcode?

Is there an easy way to switch EMC2 from a mill setup to a lathe
setup? I can do it with the turn of a knob, and I'm hoping to be able
to swap a configuration or install a switch on the knob that would let
EMC2 know which mode the Shopsmith is operating in.

Thanks everyone!