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« on: February 02, 2018, 08:31:46 AM »
Hicon looks nice but it should do for the price $595 - EEK!!
Ess looks much more affordable, However: Backlash not fully working. Only controls 4 stepper drivers and it is recommended to buy a BOB as well! So $30 on a C25 BoB. Also no mention of spindle control? Would need another Bob for spindle. Also documentation I have read is VERY unclear as to how you assign and configure the various I/O ports!
Afaik: Mach3 did its own backlash compensation (I have seen videos) because it just sent signals out through a DB-25 connector. Mo motion controllers then.
So it is really looking like as another thread stated "Mach 4 is not really for hobbyists"!
Why do I say this:
1. Lack of money - we are all short of money hence the DiY CNC builds.
2. Home made / old machines NEED backlash compensation.
3. Mach3 was a one stop solution. PC /Mach3/Stepper drivers and limit switches. Mach 4 is anything but one stop shop!
Mach 4 seems to be targeted at high end OEM installs who are happy to spend (and pass on to customer) by specifying high end motion controllers/BoBs/etc etc
Surely Backlash is not that complex:
GetNextCoordinate(Coord, dirChange);
if dirChange
then
ApllyComp(Coord)
fi;
MakeMove(Coord);