Machsupport Forum

Third party software and hardware support forums. => SmoothStepper USB => Topic started by: Len-Tikular on September 18, 2014, 03:47:40 AM

Title: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 18, 2014, 03:47:40 AM
Been Running Mach 3 on my router table for 5 years or so with no issues.
I have now converted my benchtop mill to 3 axis ballscrew and have purchased a ' Revolutionary 3 Axis Mach3 CNC USB Smooth Stepper Motion Controller Card 200KHz' which is USB to run from my Laptop. Ebay £106.00
No docs but did come with drivers so plugging it into the laptop was fine as the board was recognised and the wee red light comes on.
However this seems to be different from the Smooth Stepper discussed here.

Is there a special Plugin for this board

How do I tell Mach 3 to talk to the USB port rather than the Parallel port ?

Any help will be very much appreciated.

I have attached a PDF of the board ,

Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: ger21 on September 18, 2014, 09:38:46 AM
That is not a Smoothstepper.
The Smoothstepper boards are available from www.warp9td.com

You'll need a Mach3 plugin for that board to work with Mach3.
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 18, 2014, 11:33:30 AM
Oh Dear Gerry

Have I purchased a 'pig in a poke' ???

Anyone out there using one of these ?
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: ger21 on September 18, 2014, 11:40:12 AM
Did you receive a CD with the plugin on it? It's should be either a .dll file, or an .m3p (I think)
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 18, 2014, 11:50:45 AM
Yep, I'll check the CD when I get home later.

Also on the cd is another file which I was not to happy to see  :o. Maybe I should let the guys at Mach3 know.

George
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: ger21 on September 18, 2014, 12:02:34 PM
Yes, let them know.

Looks like this is the same board, so the plugin for it may work with yours.
http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/breakout-boards/3-axis-cnc-usb-card-mach3-200khz-breakout-board
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 18, 2014, 12:11:56 PM
Thanks Gerry.

That gives me a little more confidence in the product.


George
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Jeff_Birt on September 18, 2014, 03:27:42 PM
There have been a LOT of boards being sold in EBay with the words 'Smooth Stepper' in the listing that are not SmoothSteppers. If a company has to trick you into buying their product how good do you think it is going to be?
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 18, 2014, 04:43:33 PM
Thanks Jeff,

Maybe I should ask for a refund and purchase the real McCoy.

I purchased the board from an Ebay supplier in good faith thinking I was getting a Smooth Stepper.

George
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Jeff_Birt on September 18, 2014, 05:57:50 PM
Sounds like you were scammed. If it were me I would try to return it and complain to EBay and give the seller a honest review.
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: ger21 on September 18, 2014, 06:11:12 PM

I purchased the board from an Ebay supplier in good faith thinking I was getting a Smooth Stepper.


Your first mistake was buying something on Ebay by description alone, without even knowing what the product looked like. A picture is worth 1000 words, and the picture was not a Smoothstepper.
Next time you buy something on Ebay, make sure at a minimum that you know what the product looks like, and the picture in the auction at least matches the product.

A Smoothstepper is going to cost considerably more than the board you have. There are probably thousands of others using that same board, so you might as well try it, and see if it works for you. But if you really wanted a Smoothstepper, and are prepared to pay for one, then by all means send it back.
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 19, 2014, 04:08:26 AM
The board seems to work! It drives steppers and behaves normally, I have yet to try the I/o's

I contacted the seller via Ebay. They say the seller has agreed a refund and have advised me to return the board to China!!!!!!! even although I purchased it from a supplier who is less than a hundred miles from me in UK  ??? I have a real issue with this, I feel I should be able to return it from whence it came and get my money back within a couple of days rather than wait weeks perhaps.!!!!

Question I have is this, how much better is a real , smooth stepper board going to be. What are the advantages ?

I'm sorry to boar you guys but I'm just sounding off in the hope that others don't get duped as I did.

George
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: hilux on September 21, 2014, 06:25:28 AM
George,
Get a smooth stepper, Ethernet version and Ger21's 2010 Screenset.
 £106.00 = about AU$200, I paid about AU$180 or there abouts for mine.
Once you get the ESS dailed in You will be good to go and wonder how you ever got along without it on your laptop.
Good luck
Cheers
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 21, 2014, 04:19:09 PM
I see lots of Ethernet Smooth steppers on Ebay. Which one ?
Do I also need the breakout board ?
Thanks

George

For the moment my Imataoid smooth stepper is working.

George
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: ger21 on September 21, 2014, 05:24:07 PM
There is only one ethernet Smoothstepper. Same link I gave you earlier in this thread.
Title: Re: EasyPC New smooth stepper
Post by: Len-Tikular on September 22, 2014, 04:34:53 PM
Thank you Gerry.

It looks impressive. It's the same price as I paid for the Chinese import.
I will have to add a breakout board no doubt.

Regards

George