I am a complete and total newbie to both CNC world and Mach3, so I have some basic questions.  Please be easy on me.

I have been working on building a desktop size 3-axis CNC machine of my own design from scratch: http://wbaldwincnc.wordpress.com/  


Queston 1 Is this correct?:

[Mach3 (Win7-64bit)]     <–USB/Ethernet–>     [External Motion Controller]     <–DB25–>   [Stepper Driver]

[Mach3 (Win7-64bit)] I assume creates the G-Code

[External Motion Controller] I assume this interprets the G-Code and sends step/direction pulses to the [Stepper Driver].  

[Stepper Driver] Sends the current to the motor windings

Queston 2 What external motion controller should I be using?:

Queston 3 Is this a good driver/motor setup?: http://www.ebay.com/itm/4Axis-Nema-23-Stepper-Motor-425oz-in-CNC-Mill-Control-/130642017388?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6adefc6c


Thanks!

-   Willl

[Mach3 (Win7-64bit)]
Mach shares time with the operating system and does not work with 64 bit

Mach3 (Win7-64bit)] I assume creates the G-Code
Mach is motion control software which provides for the appropriate pulse stream  to the driver / motion contoller. It does not create the gcode. Gcode is created by using one of Mach wizards or some other software  and thus the instructions are sent appropriately to the driver.

[Stepper Driver] Sends the current to the motor windings
It sends pulses based on the intructions provided by the controlling software and yes will / can be set to control the currrent to the motors.

Queston 2 What external motion controller should I be using?:
None if you want to or can use the PP and if not then then SS

Queston 3 Is this a good driver/motor setup?:
Can;t soeak for that one but you can't go wrong with a Gecko drive.

RICH

Thank you for the reply!

Mach3 Software Requirements seem to indicate that it will work with 64bit OS if you use an external motion controller that is unless I am completely reading it wrong.  My question is what does an "external motion controller" do; why do I need one for 64-bit support; and which one should I purchase?

from Mach3 Software Requirements...
Laptop / 64-bit Desktop (using an external motion controller)
◦An appropriate external motion controller (options can be found on the Plugins page)
◦Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 Operating System
◦1Ghz CPU
◦512MB RAM
◦Basic Computer Skills (ability to copy/rename files, browse directories, etc)

Thank you for the reply!

Mach3 Software Requirements seem to indicate that it will work with 64bit OS if you use an external motion controller that is unless I am completely reading it wrong.  My question is what does an "external motion controller" do; why do I need one for 64-bit support; and which one should I purchase?

Mach3 can't use the parallel port when using a 64bit OS. The motion controller sneds the step and direction pulses to the drives, basically replacing the parallel port.