04-19-2011, 08:58 AM
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| | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US
Posts: 32
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I'm in contact with the folks at The Motion Group in CA and have been pleased with their level of support . . . especially considering they didn't sell me the controller or steppers on my mill and thus, any time spent with me pretty much represents a dead loss. That said, here's an update.
To recap, their TMG controller is a 3-axis (4th optional) black box (photo), which uses a DOS program called DLX2000 to control the steppers. What actually opens is MAXNCv10 (photo). With this, so far, I can write quickie G-code and control the mill in all four axis of motion.
Interestingly, based on my call inquiring about updates to the DLX2000 software and whether the controller would work with Mach 3 they soon got back with me with an offer. Basically, for $95 (outright, or $50 exchange) they'll sell me a board which I swap out for an existing board and this permits control using Mach 3. To say I nearly broke my neck nodding my acceptance is an understatement! Moreover, in my case, for the few extra bucks difference I opted for the outright purchase of the board on the off chance of wanting to control the mill via the DOS program some day.
FWIW, the TMG is a parallel controller (DB-25), so this precludes using a 64-bit OS on the connected computer (or so I am semi-reliably informed). This is no biggie as I have a spare license of XP Pro, which I can use. The only downside is a 32-bit OS won't address as much RAM. Speaking of the computer, the old HP Vectra, which came with Bertha was a fearful mess (photo).
Besides a coating of grime, which is not unusual on a shop floor computer, there were aluminum and steel chips inside! These, either from before he fashioned a deflector, or despite it . . I don't know. Add to it the expected layer of dust, which meant I was more than a little fearful of letting out the magic smoke when I booted it post transport from Tampa in the footwell of the pick up with which I towed Bertha to the shop!
Anyway, I carefully vacuumed it out (and blew lightly to make sure slots were clear) and while after booting I hurridly copied off the files I wanted, it continues to soldier on as if nothing. This is clearly a testatment to the robustness of the old Hewlett-Packard Vectra!
Regardless, I built up an Intel Atom 1.6 based micro box (photo) with a solid state drive, and I am waiting on a touch screen to arrive as we speak. This last, more than anything, is why I wanted a Mach 3 based software because DOS programs don't speak "touchscreen". That and Mach 3 seems to be very popular, so learning it and/or getting help may be easier.
Meanwhile, I continue to wrestle with single-to-three phase, but that's another thread. |
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