[tyler_derden]

I have a microstepped XY table that I rescued from the machine in the picture ($100 bucks at a junk-yard!). It uses two type 23 motors with microstepping controllers to drive ball screws for about 11" motion in both directions.

The stepper controllers are Parker OEM650X with RS-232 serial communications.

I have tested the motor/controller/steppers using a laptop running a terminal program (directly from the serial port to the controllers) and it all works fine. Now I am thinking about turning this thing into a printed circuit board mill or other 2D type mill (maybe for aluminum faceplates) but I don't know how to synchronize the controllers. I suspect it needs to be done in software.

Are these controllers suitable for use in a mill or are they too difficult to synchronize? What do people on a tight budget use to drive a pair of steppers and sync them so they can cut precise diagonal and curved lines?

I am an electrical engineer, so I have no problem with building/testing/troubleshooting electronics. Software is not my area of expertise...

Finally, assuming I get the axes synched, what sort of cheap software do I need to create my design (or convert gerber or .dxf files) and send it to the mill for cutting?

Thanks,

TD