How to improve/upgrade Prototrak Plus?

[cadsculptor]

The company I work for has a small shop for simple prototype work. We have a Bridgeport J2 milling machine with a Prototrak Plus retrofit.

Lately the 256 line linmit on program length has been giving me fits. Does anyone have a recomendation to upgrade or improve this system? Can I just replace the control with another CNC control but keep the Prototrak ball screws & servos?

While I'm at it, I'd like to add a z-axis quill drive. Will this just plug into whatever control I get?

I'm pretty new to the CNC world and don't want to spend countless hours tinkering around to get this up and running. Is there a pretty foolporf system out there as a kit?

Thanks for the help on this. Trying to understand servos vs steppers, what the different controllers are and what control or electronics go with what motor has been a bit confusing...

Paul

[ducati955]

Use the rs232 input function and feed the data from a old computer via a communications program like hyperterminal or there are many better ones than the windows default. The Prototrak plus had a tape system but mine has long since bit the dust.
Hope that helps