Machsupport Forum

General CNC Chat => Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) => Topic started by: rcsf on March 27, 2018, 11:00:23 AM

Title: Which controller and drivers should I use?
Post by: rcsf on March 27, 2018, 11:00:23 AM
I bought a 6040 China machine and it came with a jp-3163b controller board that I can’t seem to get to work with make 3 so I am looking at just replacing it. I’m looking for suggestions, the machine has 24v power supply and nema 57 motors. I am looking for best components to get running with this setup without spending more than 2-300. Please advise. Thank you.
Title: Re: Which controller and drivers should I use?
Post by: joeaverage on March 27, 2018, 01:19:28 PM
Hi,
that budget is very tight. What PC with what OS are you using?. If its a desktop machine with Windows7 32 bit or earlier you can use a parallel port
which is free. Combine that with a Gecko 540 which is a combined BoB and 4 axis driver would be a good combination.

If its a laptop or uses a 64 bit OS then you'll need an external motion controller. A UC100, a PMDX-411 are two good examples, combined with a G540.
The controllers are $120 and the G540 is $300.

Craig
Title: Re: Which controller and drivers should I use?
Post by: rcsf on March 27, 2018, 01:26:36 PM
I build computers for a living so I have that taking care of, my only concern is the controller and drivers at this point. I am also only using 3 axis.
Title: Re: Which controller and drivers should I use?
Post by: joeaverage on March 27, 2018, 03:38:13 PM
Hi,
you haven't specified what type of PC you are using and therefore I have no idea whether you can use a parallel port.

Craig
Title: Re: Which controller and drivers should I use?
Post by: joeaverage on March 27, 2018, 04:12:32 PM
Hi,
just a note to help avoid confusion:
A parallel port is a motion controller, Machs Parallel Port Driver takes numerical data from Machs trajectory planner
and produces pulse streams which are communicated using the parallel port of the PC. The smart bit is the software
driver. The parallel port on its own is vunerable to abuse so a breakout board (BoB) is used, its really only an amplifier/buffer,
it doesn't do anything smart. Reasonable BoBs can be had for as little as $10 but better made ones maybe $50.

An external motion controller takes numerical data from Mach via USB or Ethernet and it generates the pulse streams.
They commonly need a BoB to buffer them to the external environment. These controllers have either microcontrollers,
FPGAs or DSP chips, ie they are smart. There are some cheap but crappy ones but good ones start around $120.

External controllers mean that you are not restricted to desktop 32bit machines as you would be with a parallel port solution.
They are also subject to very much less disruption by background software running on the machine which can limit parallel
port machines.

The 4 axis G540 combines a BoB and four stepper drivers in the same device. You would only need to use three.
Gecko have a very good reputation for reliability and backup.

Craig
Title: Re: Which controller and drivers should I use?
Post by: joeaverage on April 20, 2018, 03:41:30 AM
Hi rcsf,
how did you get on?

Have you made any progress?

Craig