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IndustryArena Forum > WoodWorking Machines > Commercial CNC Wood Routers > Chinese Machines > 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2019
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    26

    6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    if a 6040 on eBay/Chinese has a parallel printer port, does that usually mean that the "Motion Control" is built into the "Break Out Board"?
    Or
    that there is no "Motion Controller" inside the "Control Box" such that the "Motion Control" is the software in the PC such as Mach3?

    Which of the above is more common for those Chinese 6040 that have the parallel printer port?
    eddiegnz1

    Posts: 6
    Joined: Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:38 pm

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    1943

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    Those machines usually have a parallel port BOB (No motion control) and require Mach3 or other on a PC. They usually come with a CD containing a cracked version of Mach3. With a PP Bob you can run many different control programs. I like LinuxCNC personally.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1422

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    Note that, in addition to having no motion control on board, the motion control software eg Mach3, LinuxCNC etc won't talk via the cheap USB to Parallel adapters. If your PC doesn't have a parallel port on it (and very few do, these days) you'll need to shell out for something that specifically has drivers for your motion control software. Things like a PCIe parallel port card installed in the computer, or a specific USB to Parallel converter for CNC with drivers (they're around), or an ethernet to parallel port like the CNCdrive gear will all do it for you.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Posts
    26

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    a

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Posts
    26

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    Quote Originally Posted by dharmic View Post
    Note that, in addition to having no motion control on board, the motion control software eg Mach3, LinuxCNC etc won't talk via the cheap USB to Parallel adapters. If your PC doesn't have a parallel port on it (and very few do, these days) you'll need to shell out for something that specifically has drivers for your motion control software. Things like a PCIe parallel port card installed in the computer, or a specific USB to Parallel converter for CNC with drivers (they're around), or an ethernet to parallel port like the CNCdrive gear will all do it for you.
    here's a "cheap USB to Parallel adapter" ... why wouldn't the UC100 work (as seen in the link below)?

    [URL]http://cncdrive.com/UC100.html[URL]

    or
    http://cncdrive.com/UC100.html

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1422

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    It would. I have the UC400ETH and it works beautifully.

    I'm more talking about this kind which might work for printers but certainly don't work for this kind of application: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-2-0-t...MAAOSwQWRc5ZkI

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    The UC100 is not an "adapter". It's a motion controller.
    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)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1422

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    Dunno, Gerry... splitting hairs maybe but I wouldn't necessarily call the CNCDrive stuff "motion controllers" so much as "adapters with accurate step clocks built in". The host PC is still generating the steps (albeit timed more accurately by the CNCDrive hardware), monitoring inputs, working out trajectory planning etc etc and generally controlling the motion.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    No, the UC100 generates the steps. The software just tells it how many and when. But I don't think the software sends a separate signal for each step.
    But yes, trajectory planning is done in the software.

    I didn't make up the term motion controllers. Technically, none of the hobby level "motion controllers" are actually motion controllers.
    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)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    1422

    Re: 6040 Break Out Board & Motion Controller Combined

    Went to their website to get more ammunition for my argument and even they call 'em "motion controllers".

    Thanks, Gerry, I learned something today.

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