So I bought a SS with the USB port because I didn't think it through. Our MachIII installation is on a lathe with a 2000mm bed, with the cabinet at one end and the control panel at the other. We decided to rip out the Heidenhein guts and simply put a PC inside the panel. Unfortunately it seems that 5 meters is too long for the USB cable, the SS is not detected properly (off/on/off/on really fast - weak signal?). The cable is supposedly active and useable at 5 meters, I guess maybe is ok with a printer or something less critical.

I already tried a couple of different brands of USB cable and also a USB to Cat5 converter. I don't want to buy a new ethernet SS but I see that there are powered USB hubs with amplifiers. Given that we already tried an amplifier cable I'm a bit suspect about it. Has anyone else had this issue? What was the solution? Can someone recommend a known USB amplifier hub that actually is proven to work.

For anyone about to buy a USB smooth stepper, don't believe these claims of the USB cables.

Long USB cables for any purpose are problematic. If your trying to power the device with the USB cable then you will have a lot of issues. I suggest using a small 5V power supply to power the SmoothStepper: http://www.soigeneris.com/meanwell_ps_05_power_supplies-details.aspx . For an industrial machine I think you will find the ESS would have been a better choice, you would need a 5V power supply for it as well.

Hi Jeff, agreed. Should have gone with the ethernet version. Tried the external power like you said, some improvement but still unusable. I guess time to get an ethernet smoother stepper!

I have them in stock

They do make USB range extenders for longer cable runs.

Just a thought, (;-) TP