Hi,
I now use an Ethernet SmoothStepper and won't be going back to a parallel port or even a USB connected controller either.
I understand not wishing to spend money on an external controller. Having said that I wonder if the reluctance to spend say $190 on a ESS
for instance may cost you more in the long run.
Your original post is about a Windows 2000 machine.....you might get it to work. Its highly likely that you will have to replace it and probably
in fairly short order. That's dollars that you might have spent on an ESS.
You last post suggests that the machine you are hoping to control is experimental? What sort of money has it consumed in terms of parts and materials?
If its a reasonable sum then the price of an ESS is not out of the way, and remember an ESS doesn't wear out exactly, you'll have it for years.
The ESS and its competitors like the PoKeys 57CNC and the UC300 all have plenty of inputs and outputs, the 57CNC and the UC300 have a few
analogue inputs as well. Any or all are suited to experimental machinery.
As far as USB connected controllers the simplest one port devices from reputable manufacturers are:
http://cncdrive.com/UC100.htmlhttps://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-411https://www.poscope.com/product/pokeys57cncd25/They are all about $100 -$120.
Don't get ripped off by Chinese UC100 copies on Ebay and Amazon, they don't work like the real thing. Buy direct from the manufacturer or their nominated
distributor or you'll get ripped off every time.
Craig