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IndustryArena Forum > Machine Controllers Software and Solutions > Controller Cards > are there still no simple cheap good USB controllers?
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
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    7

    are there still no simple cheap good USB controllers?

    I'm guessing that after all these years we still only have crappy amateur boards that use a parallel port and require a realtime computer?
    slow, under featured..

    as opposed to the obvious of closed loop USB fast cheap servo controller

    in other words what's the best (fast cheap reliable practical wlel featured) 3 axis controller these days?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4553

    Smile SmoothStepper USB Motion Control Interface for Mach 3

    Welcome to the Zone.

    Hope this helps.

    http://www.warp9td.com/

    Jeff...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    586
    that is hard stuff!!! look at the smooth stepper and drivers from gecko, not primitive unless you are thinking star trek for free!!!! which seems to be a common thing. give them a look.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Posts
    7
    moving 3 motors around at tiny power via waypoints from usb is not exactly challenging for modern electronics.

    it should be one small board handling all including power supply. just feed it mains.

    it's one of those things that you just need to do right once and for all and you can sell it for a long time. it's a crime against humanity that we don't have such a product.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    332
    lithium,
    it's not exactly challenging for modern electronics, you just need to do right once and for all and you can sell it for a long time.

    let us know when you get it done.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    2415
    Quote Originally Posted by lithium View Post
    moving 3 motors around at tiny power via waypoints from usb is not exactly challenging for modern electronics.

    It should be one small board handling all including power supply. just feed it mains.

    It's one of those things that you just need to do right once and for all and you can sell it for a long time. it's a crime against humanity that we don't have such a product.
    POW! (sound of hand slapping forehead..) how can we all be so STUPID. We should have though of this a long time ago. I mean how hard can it be? Throw some parts on a PCB and make it so it runs off any kind of power and will drive any type of motor and does closed loop via USB.

    I would do it this week, but I am currently building my own space shuttle. It's just a wad of aluminum and some custom PCB's and it needs a long extension cord to make earth orbit.

    If I do decide to do it, I am going to use NeuralNet interface and a sensing helmet, so all you need to do is just "visualize" what you want to cut and the machine does it in 3D. PC's are such outdated technology (given the 200 gigaflop XM31777 chip), that we can factor out the PC size and cost. The XM31777 is only .39 in quantity and you can get its faster Terabyte/TeraFlop brother (XM41778) for 1.44 (100 pcs). The instruction set is tiny consisting of only three 200 byte long commands: Do It; Do It Faster; and STOP Doing It. Since the chips run at .06 VDC (regulated) to keep heat down (because of global warming) it would be really cheap to run. You could run the whole processor section off a Nickle-Lemon wet cell. Better yet it could be wind powered and use the breeze from fins mounted on the ends of the motors!

    Anyone still designing with the old 100 Ghz stuff is an engineering idiot. I think the final cost for the whole board (including the 60A motor drives) will come in about $4.00 USD. Considering it will take 2 days to design, 2 days to get PCB's and another 12 hours to do the firmware and troubleshoot, the per unit cost should not exceed maybe $16.00. If course if you want the full 6 axis 4D version (runs so fast it compresses time) it would cost at least $20.00.

    TOM CAUDLE
    "OBOE" [Old Burned Out Engineer]:rainfro:

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    20
    This works for me

    http://www.boenigk-electronics.com/web/en/smc4d.html

    Regards,
    Serge

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    322

    Le

    Quote Originally Posted by Torchhead View Post
    POW! (sound of hand slapping forehead..) how can we all be so STUPID. We should have though of this a long time ago. I mean how hard can it be? Throw some parts on a PCB and make it so it runs off any kind of power and will drive any type of motor and does closed loop via USB.

    I would do it this week, but I am currently building my own space shuttle. It's just a wad of aluminum and some custom PCB's and it needs a long extension cord to make earth orbit.

    If I do decide to do it, I am going to use NeuralNet interface and a sensing helmet, so all you need to do is just "visualize" what you want to cut and the machine does it in 3D. PC's are such outdated technology (given the 200 gigaflop XM31777 chip), that we can factor out the PC size and cost. The XM31777 is only .39 in quantity and you can get its faster Terabyte/TeraFlop brother (XM41778) for 1.44 (100 pcs). The instruction set is tiny consisting of only three 200 byte long commands: Do It; Do It Faster; and STOP Doing It. Since the chips run at .06 VDC (regulated) to keep heat down (because of global warming) it would be really cheap to run. You could run the whole processor section off a Nickle-Lemon wet cell. Better yet it could be wind powered and use the breeze from fins mounted on the ends of the motors!

    Anyone still designing with the old 100 Ghz stuff is an engineering idiot. I think the final cost for the whole board (including the 60A motor drives) will come in about $4.00 USD. Considering it will take 2 days to design, 2 days to get PCB's and another 12 hours to do the firmware and troubleshoot, the per unit cost should not exceed maybe $16.00. If course if you want the full 6 axis 4D version (runs so fast it compresses time) it would cost at least $20.00.

    TOM CAUDLE
    "OBOE" [Old Burned Out Engineer]:rainfro:
    Ok, I'm on board to do the Mach3 plugins for this. As a matter of fact I tapped your NeuralNet database for details (remotely, I just hadda point roughly to Texas..) and it is already done!

    Let me know what minute you want to ship...

    -James
    James Leonard - www.DragonCNC.com - www.LeonardCNCSoftware.com - www.CorelDRAWCadCam.com - www.LeonardMusicalInstruments.com

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Torchhead View Post
    POW! (sound of hand slapping forehead..) how can we all be so STUPID.

    (snip)

    Considering it will take 2 days to design, 2 days to get PCB's and another 12 hours to do the firmware and troubleshoot,

    (snip)

    TOM CAUDLE
    "OBOE" [Old Burned Out Engineer]:rainfro:
    Tom,

    How come it takes you 12 hours to do firmware and troubleshoot? Skip that part, ship it as is and just visualize it working.:-)

    Mariss

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    2415
    Quote Originally Posted by Mariss Freimanis View Post
    Tom,

    How come it takes you 12 hours to do firmware and troubleshoot? Skip that part, ship it as is and just visualize it working.:-)

    Mariss
    Mariss:

    Well, you caught my "padding". See I can really do it in 4 hours (using my Virtual Reality Assembly Programmer) of which most of it is a virtual trip to Denmark to visit with vastly superior virtual beings. The other 8 hours is the part where I stand in my lab and drool down my chin while humming old Beach Boy songs. Besides, I have to flip the brisket ( I use the heat from the V-RAP to cook the beef ---always GREEN!) and that takes a few extra cycles.

    Perhaps if I ship each unit with a Peyote Button, the customer can visualize it working as well:idea:

  11. #11
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    Jul 2005
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    2415
    Quote Originally Posted by jemmyell View Post
    Ok, I'm on board to do the Mach3 plugins for this. As a matter of fact I tapped your NeuralNet database for details (remotely, I just hadda point roughly to Texas..) and it is already done!

    Let me know what minute you want to ship...

    -James
    AHHHHHHHH!! I felt the energy drain from my NET! (The Force is stong in this one OBOE!).

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    1865

    Talking To all the lazy good for nothing designers.

    After reading all of the replies, and wiping the tears from my eyes due to all the laughing, I salute all of you who responded.

    Tom, I would like the six axis unit please. Since it goes so fast in 4d it compresses time, I am going to write a dos based plugin, I figure if I go back in time on the operating system, I will go back in time on the pricing. I will send you my $10 tomorrow so it will get to you by early last week.


    Mike
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    35538
    Quote Originally Posted by TOTALLYRC View Post
    I figure if I go back in time on the operating system, I will go back in time on the pricing. I will send you my $10 tomorrow so it will get to you by early last week.


    Mike
    Back in the DOS days, PC's cost 5-10x what they cost today.
    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)

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    1865

    Question

    Quote Originally Posted by ger21 View Post
    Back in the DOS days, PC's cost 5-10x what they cost today.
    What do you mean, everthing wasn't cheaper and better back in the good old days????????????? LOL

    Mike
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  15. #15
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    Jul 2005
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    2415
    Mike: I got your payment yesterday (before you sent it) but we shipped last Thursday so the DOS version won't be available until 2006.

    TOM C

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
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    1865

    Talking

    Quote Originally Posted by Torchhead View Post
    Mike: I got your payment yesterday (before you sent it) but we shipped last Thursday so the DOS version won't be available until 2006.

    TOM C
    Dear Tom,
    Since this is all new technology, I am getting slightly confused, is it too early or too late to send in a change, as I need a negative 3rd axis for working with Unobtanium, and you know how difficult that can be.

    Sincerly, Mike
    a future past customer.
    Warning: DIY CNC may cause extreme hair loss due to you pulling your hair out.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
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    327
    Quote Originally Posted by jemmyell View Post
    Let me know what minute you want to ship...

    -James
    I found a vendor on Mars that will beam it to me last month, as long as I order it before end of business today. I'm sorry but I'll have to cancel my order to you...

  18. #18
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    Jul 2005
    Posts
    2415
    Quote Originally Posted by LaserImage View Post
    I found a vendor on Mars that will beam it to me last month, as long as I order it before end of business today. I'm sorry but I'll have to cancel my order to you...

    BE CAREFUL! That Martian Vendor has had complaints lodged with the ITC (Interglactic Trade Commission). Seems he(it) trades in Federation Trade Credits based on the Time-Shift-Phase-Doppler method of exchange rather than the 4D Compressed Reality Formula. It makes your TRUE cost well over 2,000 times what it should be. Although they have plenty of silica material (sand) they have to get the water from one of Saturn's moons and it might contain lead that keeps it from meeting EU RoHS standards.

    What I would like to know is how do they get a decent Internet connection on Mars and who is their ISP? I'll bet they only have 3 bars on their cell phones (none in the bottom of the canals).

    TC

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    322
    Quote Originally Posted by TOTALLYRC View Post
    Dear Tom,
    Since this is all new technology, I am getting slightly confused, is it too early or too late to send in a change, as I need a negative 3rd axis for working with Unobtanium, and you know how difficult that can be.

    Sincerly, Mike
    a future past customer.
    Isn't unobtanium milled in the negative 3rd dimension, not the negative 3rd axis?

    -James
    James Leonard - www.DragonCNC.com - www.LeonardCNCSoftware.com - www.CorelDRAWCadCam.com - www.LeonardMusicalInstruments.com

  20. #20

    USB Interface to Motor Controller

    Gez, you guys make me feel dumb, it took me longer that 20 hours to get this done.

    But alas it does have a 2006 copyright on the board.


    Now to get to work on the Servo version of it. Maybe I can have it done by last month. After all I started on it last week.

    And for those that want to use a USB port on a Vista or Windows Xp to control one of those legacy parallel port motor drivers you might want to consider the USB CamPod that I make.



    Cheers
    Dennis
    www.super-tech.com

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