breakout board comparison

[xkbal]

Hi,

I'm looking at changing the controls on a larger knee mill. I don't have much spare cash right now so am planning on using 3 G201's I have on a Taig mill to power the existing steppers. On the Taig I didn't use any breakout boards, mainly because I had never heard of them. It seems like they would make life easier but there seem to be a number of them. Does anyone have a comparison of them so you can see what would work best for you?

I plan on using TurboCNC (possibly Mach2 at some point in the future), 3 axis now but plan to upgrade to 4 when finances permit. Would like to have limit/home switches and speed control as well as control relays for spindle, coolant and vacuum.

I would appreciate any input as to what boards I should be looking at.

Thanks,
Al

[CJL5585]

I am also looking for suppliers of parallel output (DB-25) interfaces. I use the word interface because it is specifically designed for use with CNC interpeter programs and has terminals for the power supply voltages, step and direction, and home and limit switches.

So far, I have found 1 manufacturer (which is in Canada). The name of the company is Axxus Technologies. I contacted them this week, and they will not have any more boards for at least 4 or more weeks. The US price for the interface board is $60.00.

Sorry, I don't have their e-mail address at this point in time. However, there is a thread on this site "Axxus" which does have their e-mail link.

If you get a list of suppliers -- PLEASE POST SAME.

Jerry

[Bubba]

I am using the WonderBoard8 designed by a friend and unfortunately, he never pushed it into production. It was originally intended to also interface with a plc and was designed specifically for gecko drives.

I have been using this board for several months now and am compeltely happy with it.

If there is a demand, "maybe" we could get him to reserect his plans to market it?

Let me know, and I will forward comments to him.

Bubba

[CJL5585]

To XKBAL

There is a separate discussion thread "Parallel Breakout Board" which gives some info on about 3 different units. Axxus e-mail link is also there. Thought you might want to see it.

Jerry

[sendkeys]

Myself im waiting for gecko to come up with that new usb controller said to be around 150 bucks :P i will put my money in it other then a breakout. but never know could be another year away. hehe



here are some links

Axxus Technologies
http://members.shaw.ca/axxus/db1v20info.htm
Break Out Boards Schematics
Simple Compatable & Opto Isoloated Break Out Boards Schematics
http://webpages.charter.net/pminmo/cncelectronics.htm
DB25 junction board breakout box
DB25 junction board breakout box,basic board 35.00$
http://www.seanet.com/~dmauch/
Embeddedtronics
PCB only. 5 bucks
http://www.embeddedtronics.com/breakout.html
PMDX-Steve Stallings
Check out the PMDX-120 AND the new PMDX-121. High quality brerakouts with charge pump and mach2 specific features.
http://www.pmdx.com/
Sound Logic
Specially designed for Mach2. Includes Charge pump circuitry.
http://www.campbelldesigns.com/breakout_board_plus.htm
Winford
20 bucks, Very basic.
http://www.winfordeng.com/products/cat_brk.php

[dowling177]

I have been emailing Axxus for the past couple of weeks and have gotten no reply. Does anyone know if they still sell their breakout board?

Thanks

[JFettig]

I have both an Axxus breakout board which I am currently using on my mill, and a CNC4PC breakoutboard.
I like the axxus becuase it has 2 outputs for 12v relays and all, I havent hooked up my cnc4pc breakoutboard yet, I might do that this weekend if I feel that I have the time, I also bought a couple spindle encoders from cnc4pc, they all look pretty good.
The cnc4pc breakoutboard is a little bigger and not labled so thouroughly as the axxus breakout board, but still looks quite good.

Also, the price difference is pretty large, axxus is $60 and cnc4pc is like $25

I tried e-mailing axxus without success, Im guessing they arent

Jon

[dowling177]

do you have a website that I could get that cnc4pc breakout board from?

thanks

[JFettig]

http://www.cnc4pc.com

[freak_brain]

http://cnc4pc.com/

they also sell on ebay

Allen

[ckirchen]

> Moved to Product Announcements.

Chris Kirchen