Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: Geoti77 on October 20, 2020, 08:03:15 PM

Title: controller
Post by: Geoti77 on October 20, 2020, 08:03:15 PM
I am presently running Mach3 and i have a Gecko controller with a parallel port hook up and would like to get away from Parallel port usage ...If i go to Mach4 is there a way to use the same controller but not use a parallel port on my PC(maybe adaptor) or do i need a new controller to get away from Parallel technology

Thanks
George
Title: Re: controller
Post by: Graham Waterworth on October 20, 2020, 08:27:07 PM
There are a few USB to LPT mach4 adaptors on the market, PMDX-411, PoKeys57CNCd25 for a start.
Title: Re: controller
Post by: joeaverage on October 23, 2020, 10:40:44 PM
Hi,
as Graham has pointed out those two external motion controllers are readily available and competitively priced, but they
have one 'ports' worth of IO (12 outputs, 5 inputs).

An Ethernet Smoothstpper has three ports worth of IO for a total of 51 inputs and outputs, a Pokeys 57CNC has 57 IOs
and a UC300 has 85 IOs. They all cost a little more but mean that if you wish to expend, particularly inputs, at a later date you can.

Craig
Title: Re: controller
Post by: KatzYaakov on October 25, 2020, 02:44:19 AM
pokeys have 24 input and 2 relay on main card,but you can add extension  10 output relay cards ,each have 8 reley
so total can have 80 output relay
and can add extra input card so its real good advantage for who need it