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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    162

    Switching from old parallel box to new controller

    I have an old 3 axis K2 stepper machine that uses a parallel port setup that I haven't actually used in years due to family stuff. That's all over with so now I can actually indulge in my hobbies again!

    The XP box is really flakey and I'd really like to switch up to newer hardware which means windows 10. I have a USB to Parallel adapter (used for programming atmel chips which I don't do any more) but from what I hear windows 10 just won't do the bit banging the way XP used. I'm also interested in adding a 4th axis so that pretty much dictates a new control setup anyway.

    What kind of options do I have to upgrade the control system?

    P.S. It'll be run from Mach3.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    655

    Re: Switching from old parallel box to new controller

    Look at the Centroid Acorn board. Windows 10 based and looks like a great little board. I don't use it but have used centroid in the past. I really really like the look of the new board and its very well priced.
    In case anyone is wondering, I'm the twin of the other gfacer on cnczone...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: Switching from old parallel box to new controller

    A USB to parallel adapter won't work with any version of Windows, with Mach3.

    Avoid any Chinese Mach3 controllers.

    The most popular controller is the Ethernet Smoothstepper, but I'd recommend one of CNC Drive's controller, which work with both Mach3, and UCCNC. This gives you an option to move away from Mach3 for the $60 UCCNC license fee.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    162

    Re: Switching from old parallel box to new controller

    I went with a smoothstepper. Its pricier than the knock offs but it's rep is quite good. Thanks for the suggestion!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    943

    Re: Switching from old parallel box to new controller

    Quote Originally Posted by Rhodan View Post
    I went with a smoothstepper. Its pricier than the knock offs but it's rep is quite good. Thanks for the suggestion!
    What Ger21 talked about are not knoff offs and they offer more options than the smoothstepper.
    What likely confused you is there are knock offs of the CNCDrive UC100 controllers which knock offs are chinese controllers and not real CNCDrive controllers.

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