partially completed CNC Router

[sintratech]

Hi guys I finally broke down and bought a partially completed cnc router. It came with thompson quick slides and 3 stepper motors 118 oz/inch. The router cutting area is 17x16x3. It didnt come with a power supply or a controller box. I am running a computer with a 1.3 ghz P4 processor with XP Professional. Can anyone lead me on the right path of what I need and software too. The machine about broke me literally so the cheapest way possible is what I need to do. Even a DIY controller board if I have to?

[joecnc2006]

Originally Posted by sintratech Hi guys I finally broke down and bought a partially completed cnc router. It came with thompson quick slides and 3 stepper motors 118 oz/inch. The router cutting area is 17x16x3. It didnt come with a power supply or a controller box. I am running a computer with a 1.3 ghz P4 processor with XP Professional. Can anyone lead me on the right path of what I need and software too. The machine about broke me literally so the cheapest way possible is what I need to do. Even a DIY controller board if I have to?

Hobbycnc board, use some old pc powersuplies wired together, turbocnc controllor software or EMC2 on linux, then upgrade to mach3, this would be the cheapest.

[sintratech]

I have seen xylotex has a power supply and fan for $50 but I am running xp pro and dont want to change OS I want to stay with xp pro what software can I use? Or can I use something like mach3 on xp pro?

[joecnc2006]

yes i use mach3 on xp pro it is made for it.

[sintratech]

I have autocad 2005 can I use it for drawing my files or does mach3 do all that?

[Jason Marsha]

Mach 3 is the controller software. Use ac 2005 to draw your files.

Jason

[sintratech]

ok I am also new to Gcode , with Mach 3 will it do the gcode? Or will I have to have another program to do that?

[Rodm1954]

Yes Mach3 has an inbuilt program called Lazycam that will convert your drawing files to Gcode. It does require some user input but it is not difficult to work it out.

[sintratech]

does anyone have a full version of mach 3

[Jason Marsha]

Its $159.00 from www.artofcnc.com

The demo version will do all you need but will only execute 1000 lines of code
at a time.

[joecnc2006]

Originally Posted by sintratech does anyone have a full version of mach 3

yes, most people who try it buys it because it works very well, when you guy it they send you your reg. licensed file.

joe

[sintratech]

ok thats pretty reasonable then. How hard is it to make a controller for my stepper motors . I believe I am needing 3 axis