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Author Topic: best supported controller?  (Read 19340 times)

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Offline Hood

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Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #20 on: December 30, 2010, 02:12:37 PM »
Not sure on shipping, its been a while but its not hugely expensive.

What does the graph look like in the driver test, is it smooth or does it have spikes?
Hood
Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #21 on: December 30, 2010, 02:33:46 PM »
These are the worst spikes I saw during the test, apart form one of much higher amplitude right at the start, which happens every time I run the driver test (4 times now, to be sure)

Offline Hood

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Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #22 on: December 30, 2010, 02:34:58 PM »
That should be fine :)

Hood
Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #23 on: December 30, 2010, 03:03:33 PM »
Good, thanks

Credit card at the ready!

Offline ASC

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Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #24 on: December 30, 2010, 03:07:25 PM »
Another vote for smoothstepper here.  Works just like 2 LPT's, except with only 1 usb connection and cleaner and faster pulse rates.

I've had excellent results with the Kflop board as well.  It has an insanely fast pulse rate and is very powerful and flexible, but the setup can be quite daunting at first as it requires you to tune your motors through their proprietary software before using mach.  
Mr. Creosote
Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #25 on: December 30, 2010, 04:57:46 PM »
Here's another option.  Less money since you have to buy two of them.  I'm going to try one on the next machine we do that uses individual drives.

http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=270

Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #26 on: December 30, 2010, 05:18:33 PM »
Erm...
"Less money since you have to buy two of them".... do you mean that, because this has 8 outputs, I only have to buy one, and I don't need to but the parallel port PCI card?

RB
Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #27 on: December 30, 2010, 05:25:30 PM »
No.  It only has 4 axes so you still need two board and another PP.  The others are auxiliary inputs and outputs.  You'd be into two of these for about what you'd pay for one of the PMDX boards.  

Offline Hood

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Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #28 on: December 30, 2010, 05:27:18 PM »
From what I see you would still need 2 and yes you would need an extra port if going the parallel port route for the amount of axis/IO you want. Also that is not optically isolated although in my book thats no big deal, to me the buffered outputs would be the important thing if using the PP.

If thinking of SS route then both CNC4PC and PMDX have boards that are capable of supporting all inputs/outputs of the SS (2 parallel ports worth plus an extra 6 Inputs) and the SS plugs into them.

Hood
Re: best supported controller?
« Reply #29 on: December 30, 2010, 05:32:58 PM »
I was looking at motion control products mcp25 BOB's. If I can get a discount out of them (bought a few things before) I should get 2 of them including postage for about £50, and no VAT or duty or long wait, etc.

Anyone used these before?

I think the SS route is out for me, due to cost, and it not being necessary for my steppers.