Dear friend:
Contrary to what others may have told you I would encourage you to complete your quilter. I have been in the business of building, rehabilitating and retrofitting many machines specially in the quilting business. At this very moment I am designing what here we call a TABLE QUILTER which I must say that practically identical to yours.
In all my machines I use software and electronics of my design except for the last few years that it has become more feasible to buy rather cheap servo and stepper drivers that we have started using them.
While the comments you received about the accuracy of the manufacturing process might be correct you have to remember that in this case we are dealing with soft materials that bend and stretch. From their comments I can tell they may not have experienced what the quilting process is. Some new problems arise from the facts I just mentioned.
Just as a note, I have different versions of software up until now that run on a PC under FREEDOS. i don´t like Windows because it does not allow to fully use the processors capabilities. As an example, I have rebuilt machines where the motor drivers are no more than the power stages. The logic control is performed by the very main PC processor. In Windows you normally have to add a second computer. Call it what you will but the controller added do have a processor that is the actual controller.leaving the PC no more functions than that of a simple operator terminal.To me that is a big waste of resources and serves no more than to rise the cost of the systems. In fact, that was one of the reasons I began designing my own systems in a company I worked for but that is another story.
If you´d like to talk more about this subject please PM me. It would be interesting if we could hep each other to accomplish these projects.
On a personal side. Since I commercialize my systems I had to add software protection to them all. Just check the Internet for similar systems, even just the CNC controllers and you will notice why. You may want to add some protection to yours. This is of particular interest for me because my interface electronics is deceptively simple. Generally no more than a ULN2803 to signal the drivers and some resistors and capacitors for the inputs.
May I invite you to take a look of some of the machines I have retrofitted? Here are the links. The first one is of an experimental version of the software written in GWBASIC. It served me compare it to my assembler written programs. While it showed to be slow for most machines it proved useful for the conversion of mechanical machines due the fact that their mechancal structures cannot withstand the acceleration forces of those originally built for that. That gave origin to a new family of program a lot less expensive than the firsts. The second shows a rehabilitated frame quilter using the assemled version of the software. The third is a rehabilitated router also with an assembled version of the software. The fourth show a converted mechanical chain quilter. In this last machine I used the improved version of that used in the first "toy" that now I use for such machines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUEIySDo07w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buz-ezZ43Hc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6FiInwcxh8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErNjNtC60As
Please do not misunderstand me as if I were showing off my work. My wife has just told me that it appars as if I wanted to do so. It is not that. I just pretend to let you know that your project may have more uses and benefits for you than what you may have thought in the first place.
I understand that in Europe as well as the US and Canada these type of machines are in quite a demand. Have you thought of profiting from what I believe might be your hobby?
Again, if you have some questions and ideas, please PM me. I will try to help if I can.
Best regards.