thanks dude, but i suspect we both already know the answer.  how much was the smooth stepper and was it a  pita to install?

It is very easy to install. You plug it in, point the Found New Hardware Wizard to SS driver file, install the SS Plug-in for Mach 3 and then tell Mach to use the SS as your motion control device. After that you will need to configure the SS for the proper update freq for each axis and the velocity update rate. Ports&Pins settings etc are all done in Mach 3.

I have a more detailed set of instructions that I send out with each SS I sell...

Sounds good, im waiting on Ken to fill me in a little more on it, i believe there are still a few software issues to be resolved? Im quite keen to get one if it significantly reduces system overhead as i want to hook up two webcams, one over X and one over A so I can tip2tip at the same time while i am jogging with mach. Currently I can have a single webcam on with a large path but if i roll A everything goes to hell in a handbasket and i hit the ceiling with my processor.

i suppose i could go for a quad or dual core system and somehow try force the camera routines onto a different core than mach but seems like it should be simpler if something helps take the load off mach. in much the same way a graphics card takes the load off graphics routines on the processor.

what does it cost by the way?

The SS itself is $155, you'll need the correct cables to fit your application too. If your replacing a parallel port you'll likely want the LPH26 to DB25 cable. Take a look here: http://soigeneris.com/Warp9.aspx

Sounds good, im waiting on Ken to fill me in a little more on it, i believe there are still a few software issues to be resolved? Im quite keen to get one if it significantly reduces system overhead as i want to hook up two webcams, one over X and one over A so I can tip2tip at the same time while i am jogging with mach. Currently I can have a single webcam on with a large path but if i roll A everything goes to hell in a handbasket and i hit the ceiling with my processor.

Only one real major PITA issue I am having with it is any G00 move will only go at 90mm/min, so I have to edit out those moves in my code and replace with G01. I talked to Leo a couple of weeks ago and he is not having this issue, so I suspect it is just related to my board somehow. Also cant use the home and probe button. Have to home each axis separately, then probe.
It probably wont gain you much in speed. I think my biggest speed increase was converting to the ball screws with a lower pitch.

Ken.. i suppose it might be asking a bit much but the ultimate test would be to hook your mill up to the parallel port, load a big path and cut air.. monitor processor usage then do the same while running it through the SS.

Not that i would ask you to do such a thing of course.... 

Did you require a cable conversion as mentioned above?

At 155 dollars i suppose im not loosing much giving it a shot... but im not keen to start editting my code because of the issues you getting

thanks for feedback.

Regards
Chris

Only one real major PITA issue I am having with it is any G00 move will only go at 90mm/min,

I have yet to hear of anyone else having this problem. I certainly have not seen it in any of the SmoothSteppers I have used/sold over the past year or so. The same code runs with no modifications with the LPT or SS. I have my shop machine set up run either LPT or SS. It is an old 1.5 gHz AMD machine so I should be able to see some difference in processor load.

I can't explain it either Jeff...Oddly, when I run through the PP, the machine will G00 at the speeds the motors are tuned to in Mach. The jogging hotkeys (arrow keys) work fine with the SS and jog at the tuned speeds...It's only when running the code in my toolpaths that this slow G0 happens.

Chris, I'll try to take some time next week to clock processor loads both ways. I ran a 7mb rotary file yesterday with no problems with the toolpath window open.

cool
thanks dude