[morfeus80]

Hello, I am designing a 4 axis milling machine and I have some doubts about the electrincs to use.
Because the laptop I have avaible does not have any parallel port, I thin k the best choice for the controller is a Smoothstepper USB (or ethernet). Do you confirm?
Then I have not clear if from that I can go directly to the drivers of the stepper motors (like this one https://www.omc-stepperonline.com/3-...st-6560v3.html ) or if I need anyway a breakout board.
Thank you

[ger21]

If you want to use Mach3, than the ethernet smoothstepper is probably the best option.
I would recommend using UCCNC rather than Mach3, and one of CNC Drives motion controllers.
Better performance than Mach3, and less money.

A breakout board is the best way to connect to the drives from the motion controller.

[morfeus80]

Dear ger21, at the end I have decided to follow your advice, I will swap to UCCNC, so I have ordered a UC300eth.
Can somebody tell suggest me a breakout board to use with this controller? I have seen the C10 that is cheap, then other very expensive...

[Sterob]

Have a look at this one:

UB1 [UB1] - $180.00 : CNCRoom, The Room for CNC'ers, from Mini to Big machine, from Hobbyists to Gurus - ????????????????? ???????????????????????????????

[morfeus80]

Hi, I have already seen that, but it is the most expensive... for me makes no sense spending more for a breakout board than for the controller.

[ger21]

It depends on what features you want or need.
I use a UB-1 myself. Some people use the cheap $10 5 axis boards from Ebay.

There are probably 100 different breakout boards that you can use.

[morfeus80]

Can you explain me the advantages of a ub1 that costs around 200€ versus a c10 that costs around 15€?

[Sterob]

Its up to you Morfeus.
To me, it doesn't matter which one was more expensive than the other.
I dont have the UB-1 ( I bought the MB2 as I have a ESS) but it looks to be the most versatile and neatest solution.( Too many features to list here. )
I think your chances of having problems ( or being able to over come problems ) will be less with a better quality BOB.

Also, if you get 5 or 7 years use out of it, what does the cost matter?

Of course, nothing's guaranteed and you may or may not have problems, which ever way you go.

We are just giving our opinions on the matter. Good Luck.

[morfeus80]

Sorry, but this is my first CNC project and more I read, more I am confused.
So resuming: I have the UC300eth and I need a BOB, I think I will go for the UCBB that is the same brand as the controller. What do you think about this choice?
Then to drive the step motors, do I connect them directly to the BOB or I need another driver? In this case can the ST6560 be the correct choice for 3 steppers? Or do you have other suggestions?

Thanks

[OlfCNC]

Sorry, but this is my first CNC project and more I read, more I am confused.
So resuming: I have the UC300eth and I need a BOB, I think I will go for the UCBB that is the same brand as the controller. What do you think about this choice?
Then to drive the step motors, do I connect them directly to the BOB or I need another driver? In this case can the ST6560 be the correct choice for 3 steppers? Or do you have other suggestions?

Thanks

You can use that BOB with the UC300ETH and you need motor drives too which you can connect to the BOB.
I would not use any of those TB Toshiba drives, they are not reliable in long terms.
Much better to use standalone axis drives for example DM556 or similar ones. They run the motors more smooth and much more reliable.