[nick mulder]

Hi,

I own a PC without a parallel port and will be buying a mill soon to be converted to CNC - 2 axes to start with with steppers and gecko drives/similar...

What combo of application (mach 3 ??) and output device (serial, USB, parallel viaUSB) can I use to communicate the step/dir info to drives that take this as input ? I remember hearing that USB/Parallel converters dont work as its an emulation ...

There are so many PC's around now with no parallel port I was hoping someone had a work around ... Maybe there is a drive that communicates directly to an application via USB ? (ie. no step/sir pulses)

any info appreciated,
nick

[audioandy1762]

Hi Nick

Have a look at this

http://www.geckodrive.com/photos/G100_DESCRIPTION.pdf

Hope this points you in the right direction

Andy

[imserv]

Hi,

I own a PC without a parallel port and will be buying a mill soon to be converted to CNC - 2 axes to start with with steppers and gecko drives/similar...

DeskCNC works with serial or usb-to-serial adaptor. Hardware control at up to 125,000 steps per second on 4 simultaneous axes.

http://www.imsrv.com/deskcnc


Fred Smith - IMService

[InspirationTool]

I'd suggest using Mach 3 and just getting a Parallel PCI board. See:

http://www.industrialhobbies.com/howto/tips/cards.htm

-Jeff

[ger21]

There's a Mach3 plugin being written for the ncPod. SHould be ready soon.
http://ncpod.oemtech.com/

[Dennis Bohlke]

My solution was to made a USB to Parallel Port connector adapter. I call it the CamPod, it has a built in computer to generate step and direction signals for three motor drivers and to control two relays.

The CamPod can be hardwire configured to match just about any signal pin assignment configuration. There is a spare chip location for wiring in a signal inverter IC.

The CamPod works directly with my SuperCamXp program. Which is a CAD user interface to the XYZ machine, which basically lets you draw and cut with it. It also imports DXF, HPGL, BMP and G-code files. There is a built in Editor for editing and executing G-code files.

The great thing about SuperCamXp is that for most jobs you don’t have to bother with using G-code tool path files.

I have some videos on YouTube at:
DXF to G-code File SuperCamXp Tutorial, 02:38
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGDbULSvTEA

Engraving Shamrock from DXF file on Desktop Taig Mill, 06:18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORC4qnpk2ls

CNC Taig Mill Draw and Cut with SuperCamXp, 06:47
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1-mF14GYhU

I also have higher resolution tutorials on my Web Sight:
http://www.super-tech.com/root/itm.a...amxp-tutorials

This is my machine control solution for computers that do not have parallel ports. It’s ready now.

I have also found it a 100 percent compatible with the new Vista operating system.

There are demo versions available at:
http://www.super-tech.com/root/grp.a...uperCamXp-Demo

With the demo version you can export G-code files compatible with the Mach3 program.

Dennis
www.super-tech.com

[nick mulder]

At the moment the deskCNC system with the included USB-serial-step/dir controller looks like the easiest setup to solve my parallel port issue ...

But the ncPOD if it can interface with mach3 looks interesting also ...

How soon can this plugin be expected ?

Both options seem really quite expensive in that in the end I am just getting the same functionality as an older parallel port PC with mach3 installed - in essence both boards just become a "working USB/parallel interface" (or am I missing something ?)

However the potential extended capabilities of the ncPOD and G100 (pdf) interest me ...

The reason is that once I have a CNC mill running I'm going to build another system - a motion control system in which I need to move objects around in timely manner - I am hoping to sequence this info in an animation program that will output a file that represents each virtual objects position with respect to time - this file would be converted into velocity vs time info (a differentiation) and then outputted as step/dir info to a series of drives (probably servos) which all going swimmingly will move the real objects in the same sequenced fashion ...

The G100 for me is bewildering as a relative beginner - I cant quite make head or toe of where it begins and ends in what it does... does it have a user interface (like the ncPOD appears to) ? Can it run with mach3 or similar to run as a simple CNC USB to step/dir controller ? Is it in fact a step or servo drive also ?

What really gets me is this movie - thats just what I want to do ! but how is he setting up that movement ? with what UI ? what servo/stepper is running that and via what drive ?

I've sent all these questions to Gecko - no response as of yet ...

The ncPOD I'm guessing is a similar set up to the G100 ?


What would be really cool is a system that I could use in both applications -

1. Firstly as a simple 2-4 axis CNC controller ie. something that takes files (.dxf whatever) and converts them to a bunch of step/dir pulses at the other end - I dont mind how it does it in terms of hardware but I'd like the interface software to be well supported and preferably popular (mach3 for instance)
   
2. Secondly the same equipment (or the bulk of it) could be used to run my own motion control system (outlined above) ... this system wont use g-code, and will have its own user interface developed by me (a mod of a 3D animation prog like studio max) - but it would be neat to have some sort of 'box' with 6 or so axes of step/dir outputs and some logic outs also (to run relays etc...) - maybe some inputs or outputs with AD/DA would be interesting also (but not essential) - this would connect via serial (via a USB adaptor) or direct USB and I would have some way of connecting my user interface to its capabilities in the PC ... (I imagine that will be the tricky bit for me)

Once the mach3 plugin is made for the ncPOD it will git the first bill - does it fit the second ?

Is the G100 a solution - it seems to be a step or two ahead of me in terms of my knowledge (the info is sparse andd arcane to say the least)

Maybe I'll just get the deskCNC product for now and worry about the rest later ?


many many options to wade through :drowning: - any advice appreciated

nick

[ger21]

Both the G100 and ncPod have Mach3 plugins, both of which should be complete in the next few months. Both plugins have been delayed due to firmware issues, but should be complete in the next few months at most, possible much sooner.

Neither has a "user interface", but you can write you're own software to control them, or use Mach3.

The ncPod gives almost twice the output speed over a parallel port, and the pulses should be much smoother, which translates to smoother running motors. The G100 is much, much faster still.

[nick mulder]

The G100 or the ncPOD looks like the go then

Where can I find out info about the Mach3 plugins for either ? ...as neither outfits have replied to my emails asking the same questions I have here which is a worry.

Mind you I asked a heap of questions, maybe they are writing a essay in response, the quality of the reply may well determine who I am happier with buying from (I hope thats not read as a consumer threat! Its just a reality)...

Maybe Artsoft is making the plugins > ? (Its in their interests also...)

[ger21]

Art spends about 12-16 hours a day working on varying parts of Mach3, and the rest of the day providing support. Forgive him if you don't get a reply. The best place to get info on either plugin is to ask on the Mach Yahoo support group, mach1mach2cnc. There is also a Mach3 forum at www.machsupport.com

Here's a post from Art last week on the then current state of Mach3.

Hi:

I thought Id better mention this in a letter with the proper heading, I mentioned it in a response to
another user the other day. I now have the new G100 firmware, it looks very good, but is a very large rewrite in several ways.
You will be seeing reference to it on the various groups, so just to keep the G100 owners informed....

I have begun the rewrite, (I can jog and do IO now. ), and work continues. Many things have changed in the way the G100
operates, and in its protocol. Steve has completely rewritten the messaging classes, and most of the logic classes, so this will
take awhile, on the bright side, he will be an expert at helping me with what I run into. So it may not take as long as I originally thought.
The more I play in there, the more I'm understanding the interface. I hope to have some preliminary plugins within a few short weeks,
perhaps sooner. Expect trouble, but expect that trouble to be solvable now. The Spindle can now be a separate axis on its own,
with no tie to the GCode axis, so that will fix the requirement for a spindle frequency. Ill keep you posted on periodic progress,
I know many of you want test versions as we go, so Ill release as I can and when I feel we hit particular milestones in the rewrite.

The old plugin didn't avail itself of many things the newer plugins can do, so Ill make this a complete upgrade , basically a new plugin,
there wont be much left from the old one, so it will take a while to complete. I'm in the middle of 3 projects I feel I cant drop, so
Ill be parallel developing , while I wait on one thing, Ill work on another..

Lazycam has been undergoing a rather drastic upgrade as well, and will be a month or so till I'm ready to release it I think, I may get
all the features in prior to initial release, I may not. Pocketing (as in the new video) and Offsetting (Kerfing) and Hot Wire -2d, are done, but we want to get
isolation profiling and turning done before release. The LazyCam-Pro release will require a license. Its projected at $75.00 for a Pro license
for LCam, due to royalty and license agreements I have signed, but I do have the flexibility to release early if I cant get isolation done
in time, and lower the price to $50.00 for those that don't mind being the testers of the initial modules. Or I may opt to allow a 2-3 month
pricing of $50.00 with the realization that there will be lots of bugs to find in the initial couple of months, so the initial users deserve a break on it.

These turning and pocketing modules are very high capability modules and will be very popular for the "Cam challenged". LazyCam will stay
free of course as it stands now with just import capabilities. Ive tried to keep the costs down, but I think 75.00 for the functionality it will offer
is a very good deal all things considered , we'll see how you feel when you get a chance to play with it.

The ncPod is till undergoing some final adjustments in its firmware as well, its taking longer than I hoped (doesn't all firmware..), but
seems to be working fairly well at most sites, a jog bug has been discovered in a few test sites, but other than that it appears to be working
well, the new firmware for it will give ramped homing routines, fix the jog bug, and then probing can be completed. That will just about do
it for the ncPod.

Latest Galil plugin seems to be working well by reports, and is in full release.

The Delta-Tau plugin has been started, but is delayed as well due to some technical issues, we're working on that as the lower priority
as its not a general user item..

The Chinese version of Mach3 is getting closer to completion, a side project I had to get going, the chinese seem to be going crazy
for Mach3 this year, so its another unexpected job that cropped up..

Mach3's lockdown has started to truly lock down. A couple small bugs still exist, I'm searching and watching for those, but bug reports
on Mach3 have dropped over 80% over the past 3 months, so the lockdown is almost complete. When that happens, and the above three
projects are ready to go, then Quantum work will restart , and things will start to tie together..

Well, thats it, I hope it answers some of your questions about whats going on, and whats coming out..and approximately when.. As someone mentioned
this week, the loosest schedule in the world are software schedules, you just never know what you'll hit, but all the above look to be on a good track now,
so I'm hopeful for the near future on all of them.

Thanks,
Art
www.artofcnc.ca

[gmfoster]

The G100 or the ncPOD looks like the go then

Where can I find out info about the Mach3 plugins for either ? ...as neither outfits have replied to my emails asking the same questions I have here which is a worry.

Mind you I asked a heap of questions, maybe they are writing a essay in response, the quality of the reply may well determine who I am happier with buying from (I hope thats not read as a consumer threat! Its just a reality)...

Maybe Artsoft is making the plugins > ? (Its in their interests also...)

Well I'll ask you a simple question. Why is not using a 19.00-49.00 dollar parallel port such a big thing? It a tried and proven method used by hundreds all over the world. It is available now and doesn't need any additional support. They are available for desktops and laptops. Require no special support. What the huge desire to go to uncharted waters?

I doubt that Art will write you an essay, especally as I am sure all of the information you ask for is in the user mail reflector or on one of his web pages already.

I can assure you that Fred will respond with his sales pitch. And I have seen him demontstrate his product and it seemed pretty nice.

Garry

[imserv]

Gary, The NcPod is the 3rd generation DeskCNC controller. It is not yet released for sale to the general public.

It is targeted for oem use. There is an extensive library of functions that interface with Windows .net applications. This includes the "free for personal use" versions of VB, VC, and Vccccc++ etc. The software includes a stand alone compiled VB project that can be used as a basic machine controller, utilizing a freeware trajectory planner and g-code interpreter.

It has a similar electrical interface to the 1st and 2nd gen DeskCNC boards, changing from a serial to a USB-2 communication with the host computer. It has a 4th and 5th axis added (including homing) and an spi-serial interface for hardware developers. It also adds an S-D card slot for at least 2 Gig ( and maybe 4) of on-board memory and stand alone operation.

The initial release of the NcPod will be spec'd at 75,000 steps per second. This is a significant derating from the 2nd gen board which handles 125,000 sps rates. All the IMService servo systems run at 85,000 sps (in 4x mode), so the NcPod derates our systems during beta testing. We expect that at release time, the NcPod will be available with a minimum 85,000 sps. The pod is also a significant improvement on the parallel port, which is limited to about 25,000 (45000 max) usable sps on most Windows computers.

Using a parallel port card is not the difference between the NcPod and the parallel card as you need a break out board with most parallel systems in addition to the parallel port card. The cost of a parallel port card AND a buffered BOB is comparable to the NcPod or DeskCNC. The NcPod is auto recognized in Win XP by the Mach (plugin). I have not tried it yet in Vista, but I assume it will operate the same.

Once the Mach plugin is released for the NcPod, IMService will be offering either the DeskCNC serial (and usb1-0r-2-to-serial) interface or the Mach-3 usb-2 interface at about the same price for all our systems and kits. We will still offer little support for parallel port systems as we do not feel that it is a commercially viable interface.

Fred Smith - IMService
http://www.imsrv.com

[InspirationTool]

Throwing my own two cents in...

My experience with the DeskCNC control software has been rather disappointing. I've crashed my machine several times due to usability design issues, and the inability to override jog and feed separately. It just seems the software likes to bite you in the ass.

That said, the hardware seems solid. The NC pod with Mach 3 sounds like a great option.

-Jeff