[ClockMaster]

I recently obtained some steepers and a full axis setup with controllers that was going to be trashed. I would like to put these to use but am a little stumped on how to control them. The motors are a nema 23 style made by American Precision....
Model M232-09
1.7vdc
4.7amps
5 wire

The controllers are LN2 series made by Precision Controls. They have a parallel port for input as follows.
1 STEP+
14 STEP-
2 DIRECTION +
15 DIRECTION -
16 SHUTDOWN +
17 SHUTDOWN -
9 FAULT +
21 FAULT -
11 RXD
24 TXD
12 RS232

What can I use to drive these?
With the software I have seen I havent seen a way to drive these. I would like to keep these boards as the built in power supplies are pretty beefy and they run off 120v. Thanks

[ClockMaster]

After doing more research It seems I may need an indexer with sourcing outputs (com dir step) or differential outputs ( step- step+ dir- dir+) can anyone explain what this is and a brief explaination of how it works.

[H500]

I see no reason why you can't just drive the step/dir from the parallel port of a PC, unless it need a high voltage. The minus inputs can just be tied together and connected to a ground pin.

Mach2 is a good program to use if you're running windows.

[ClockMaster]

well i went back to the lab to see if there was anything left over from this machine. Theres a 3 axis setup with tk rails and nema 23 motors the manager is going to see if I can have them. Chances are they are thorwing them out...He did give me some cables. The cable was fat with a weird unknown connector on 1 end and 3 parallel connectors on the other. the parallel connectors go into the driver boards. The connectors had 6 wires per driver board. the + positives are all connected together with jumper wires and the other 3 i assume are for dir - step - and shutdown - so the hunt contunues on how to drive it. I'll have to research the jumpers more and see if it can be changed