Hi,
So with my old Compaq dc7700 computer with parallel port , USB and Ethernet sockets, what operating system do you suggest I install - Win 7 32 bit ?
If you are going to Mach4 and a required USB or Ethernet connected motion controller as opposed to Darwin then install whatever you like, Mach4 and controller
doesn't care.
If you are going to get an external motion controller there are a number of options ranging from about $120 through to thousands, but my preference
is an Ethernet SmoothStepper for about $180. You can hook a G540 to that and maybe if you had a auxillary C10 breakout board ($23) it would give you plenty
of extra inputs and outputs.
I like the strong support here for Gecko G540. Do you connect each of the 3 stepper motors directly to it? And does it have a speed control for the spindle motor?
Yes, you connect three steppers direct to the G540, it has four stepper drivers built in. It has a PWM to analogue converter but you need a speed controller to convert
the 0-10V analogue to spindle motor current, the G540 does not do that.
Craig