custom build CNC mill panel suggestions Please

[jaydeep gajjar]

Hi there !

After a long time i am writing a new thread on cnczone. I am getting to start a new project for CNC control panel for mill. In past, i had built a 3-axis hobby CNC that can work on wood , controlled by PC (EMC2) through par port.

Now I want to design control panel like some smaller industry standard controllers and i have decided that i will not use par port (because many new PCs dosnt have one.)

i have enough knowledge of micro controllers(pic & arm7) and basic electronics.

i have two designs that are in my mind.

1. Use microcontroller and create its firmware.
> which have sd-card support to store g-code files.
> USB or ethernet support to transfer g-code files to control panel
remotely. (it can be pic18f4550 for usb.)
> create custom software that can start,stop or interrupt machine if
needed otherwise microcontroller run the machine alone without
need of computer.

Otherwise,

2 Put a low cost computer and design a PCI based IO card that can be controlled from Operating Software.

Please give some suggestions.
Thanks in advance.