what USB Breakout Board to by ??

[dbss]

Hi !!
I am working on a plasma tabel projekt.
The tabel will be in the size so that you can put a 1,5*3 m ore 5´*10´metall sheat on it.
So to the quistion..
I want a USB breakout bord that will work with THC, Is the one ??
It would bee nice if it workt with mach3 put it doesent have to.
All sugestions are welcome =)
Dag Brunnstrom
Sweden

[ger21]

I don't know of any usb breakout boards. The soon to be released SmoothStepper interfaces to Mach3 using usb, and can accomodate two parallel port breakout boards. http://www.warp9td.com/

[dbss]

Hi Dennis !!
I have been looking att you site and you have many nice things there.
The thing I am looking for is how to integate a thc system like "Campell THC300" with a
usb breakout bord, so I can run the tabel with just a laptop.
I read all the information about your usbcard and it seems to me that when You talk about THC system you mean a standolone system and not a integrated system.
The thing about standalone systems are the price tag that comes along with it.
The Campell design is 350 $ so it is pretty cheap comeard to the standalonesystems I have found.
Regs
Dag Brunnstrom

[Dennis Bohlke]

Dag

Thank you for looking over my site.

I did some research on the THC300. I found that it requires two parallel ports to have enough inputs and outputs to operate.

Port2
Pin 08 - Dir signal for Z axis
Pin 09 - Dir signal for A axis (reversed from Pin 7)
Pin 10 - External Estop
Pin 11 - Limit/home switch for X axis
Pin 12 - Limit/home switch for Y axis
Pin 13 - Limit/home switch for Z axis
Pin 15 - Limit/home Switch for A axis
Pin 17 - Charge Pump 15Khz out

Port2:
Pin 01 - Spindle ON (Torch ON)
Pin 11 - Move Z axis DOWN
Pin 12 - Move Z axis UP
Pin 15 - Arc OK signal
Pin 13 - Torch Float Switch (contact switch)
Pin 17 - Charge Pump 15Khz out

There is the possibility of using a second USB Breakout board to provide the additional input and output signals. The current problem would be that the programming to operate it is not present.

Standalone THC systems provide the mechanical assembly as well as the electronic circuit boards. Hence the cost is as you point out considerably higher. But implementation and use is incredibly easy in comparison.

Looks like the THC300 is pretty much married to Mach2 and Mach3 programs.

Thank you for your consideration.

Dennis
http://www.super-tech.com

[dbss]

Thanks Dennis for taking the time to look in to it.
There seems to be several USB produkts comming out on the market soon so I´ll
probably just have to wait.... but I am not good at that.
I am curently sitting and calculating on the gearratio for the steppers.
Trying to get the speed and accuracy right.
Regs
Dag Brunnstrom

[joemic]

Can we use the smoothstepper interface card's 2nd parallel port for control THC300 for plasma cutting?

Joe