[fsoheili]

Hi I’m looking for some electronics advice for a benchtop kit cnc machine which has 4 NEMA 23 motors (Z, X, and 2 for Y axis).

My knowledge is pretty limited here and I’d like a simple plugin box if possible, my PC has parallel port as well as Ethernet/USB ports.

I’m looking at the Leadshine MX4660 as a solution although it seems pricey when compared to some other offerings I’ve seen.

[peteeng]

Hi FSO - Well there are several options:
1) Here's a good one box solution https://www.makerstore.com.au/product/elec-scxprov5/
2) Gets complex if you buy a BOB, PS, motion controller and machine controller but there are advantages
3) I'm looking at 3D printer controllers seems to be good value, the machine controller and motion controller are free look at Marlin or Klipper and get a Duet3D mother board something like this https://www.duet3d.com/duet3mainboard6hc

See how you go. Peter

[joeavaerage]

Hi,
are you asking for advice about motor drivers or what?
Things like motor drivers are determined by by the motor but as importantly by the breakout board and the motion controller that precedes it.

The more germane question is what CNC software do you want t run? There are some traditional ones like Mach3, and it even has a parallel port version
if you really want to go retro.

The other and more useful contenders are Mach4 with an external motion controller, UCCNC also with an external motion controller, PlanetCNC with their motion controller,
Centroid Acorn and their motion controller, and maybe LinuxCNC running on a Linux PC with a parallel port for output.

Each of these options has certain price/performance/ease of use benefits, and all of them desreve you doing a liitle Google searching on them. It may satisfy your
curiosity and then ask some more questions.

These are the traditional CNC software solutions but as peteeng has pointed out there is a plethora of controllers which are primarily directed at the 3D printer market but can
be used for CNC also. One of the older ones is GRBL, its open source and runs on an Arduino style board.

Craig

[peteeng]

Hi I looked at the MX4660 and you still need a motion controller so that's adds up. The MX at 60V and 6A is attractive for bigger motors then you have. 60V is very attractive. The 3D printer boards are a BOB, motion controller and machine controller, computer in one.

https://biqu.equipment/collections/c.../manta-m4p-m8p

Don't need a computer to run either as its a computer by itself. Front end (GUI) is different to a CNC GUI but can do the same job with lots of options....I'm wading thru this stuff at the moment So you get the whole deal + 4 drivers for $108USD Peter

https://biqu.equipment/collections/c...39786596171874 this ones good as uses 48V drivers

[automationtechinc]

Hi I looked at the MX4660 and you still need a motion controller so that's adds up. The MX at 60V and 6A is attractive for bigger motors then you have. 60V is very attractive. The 3D printer boards are a BOB, motion controller and machine controller, computer in one.

https://biqu.equipment/collections/c.../manta-m4p-m8p

Don't need a computer to run either as its a computer by itself. Front end (GUI) is different to a CNC GUI but can do the same job with lots of options....I'm wading thru this stuff at the moment So you get the whole deal + 4 drivers for $108USD Peter

https://biqu.equipment/collections/c...39786596171874 this ones good as uses 48V drivers

This is a ready to run with motors and controller, you may consider it

Here is the Video:
https://youtu.be/8gqWXBfoJKM

https://www.automationtechnologiesin...-system-nema23