Newbie- Granite Drive with Windows 7 64Bit

[speedydumpster]

Dear all.
I was wondering if anyone had a solution for using a Granite Drive with Windows 7 64 bit? I don't want to use a parallel port. I'd like to use USB or the ethernet port. I just don't know what would work with the Granite Drives. I'm trying to set up a CNC machine with Baldor or Allen Bradley brushless AC or Brushless DC servos. I heard you might be able to use the Smoothstepper, but that scares me as it's in beta. There is Kflop and some other stuff out there, but I don't know what gives you the best results. I like the price of the Smoothstepper though, at $150. I don't know anything about the different communications besides step/dir, but I heard you could do RS485 or something like that. Can anyone tell me what I need? I don't have the money to buy a $1000 Galil card. I took a look at the Granite Drive's VSDEPI card, but again, you need a parallel port.
Thanks for your help.
Dave

[Xerxes]

Hi Dave,

I think SmoothStepper or equivalent non-parallel port output is the best way to go at the moment on 64bit windows. The RS485 stuff will take a while to be finished (already late, I know).

Personally I haven't had any issues with smoothstepper. However please notice I haven't used it on serious machining but just for testing drives.