CNC design and implementation is pretty new to me. I know very little to nothing on the subject, but learn quickly. I just need to be pointed in the right direction and need to read, read, read.

I am trying to do one or all of a few things and have many things already at my disposal.

One is retrofit a Strippit XP 1000 Punch Press with Macintosh Machine Control to a PC based control with off the shelf parts.

Two, retrofit either a Bridgeport or Lagun Mill (non CNC) with motors and controls to make it CNC programmable.

Three, and mostly for a personal side project, create a CNC plasma cutter table.

Currently I have been reading up on various Machine Control software such as Mach3, EMC2 (currently installed on a PC) and various components. I have also purchased an OPTO22 PCI-ACT5 card to figure out how these things work together and start getting things to move back and forth, etc. I need to figure out how these things work together in a linear fashion. Machine Controller - > I/O Card -> Bridge/Rack Switch -> Motors/Sensors? then...? Is that even the correct order?

Any help, advice and instruction would be greatly appreciated. I know I appear to be totally new at this and I am. But we all have to start somewhere.