Can You Suggest a USB Breakout Board?

[Tom Kay]

Hi CNC Group;

It's been a few years since I last worked with my steppers and drivers, but I'd like to get back into it. One thing that's changed in that time, is that USB ports are used extensively now, as opposed to the parallel port (do current computers even have these old ports?).

I have a parallel port breakout board, but now I need a decent 4 axis breakout board, USB connected. I will be running a hobby-sized vertical milling machine with a rotary table and using 200 steps/rev. motors of roughly 450 oz-inch. My drivers are from Dan Mauch's Camtronics, the solder-it-yourself-kit, but if those don't prove to be stable, I'll just replace them with Gecko's.

I'll likely go with Art's Mach 3. I haven't done it yet, but I assume that Rhino 3D models can be converted to code for 3 or 4 axis machining? I'd like to stay with Rhino, since I've gotten pretty comfy with it. In fact, I am totally impressed with Rhino and its user-friendliness.

So, back to my subject, assuming that breakout boards can be connected via the USB port, what one would you suggest for my needs?

Thanks for any help, Tom.

[GridVirt]

Go with the dynomotion kflop and kstep @ $450 you can't beat it. For price and performance none of the others even come close.

I just sold my USB smooth stepper and 3 213v geckos and broke even. Don't get me wrong the smooth stepper and geckos are nice but don't even begin to touch what the kflop can do.

As long as your steppers are under 5A and you don't need more than 48v. Most NEMA 23 and the smaller NEMA 34 size steppers will work. The kflop includes software so don't make the same mistake I did and end up with a license of Mach3 that you don't need.

I have also installed/used one of those Chinese 4-axis USB controllers you see all over eBay. I updated my fathers knee mill retro along with 3 DG2S-16035 servo drives. It is fine if you already have a copy of Mach3 and just want something quick and simple but I suggest you brush up on your Mandarin/Chinese because the English manual is full of it (partial translation). It took me about 2 weeks and a lot of searching to get that one right. But the mill runs better now than it ever did with the old analog setup.

Hope this helps and good luck

[ger21]

There are no USB breakout boards that will work with Mach3. What you need is a motion controller. As was mentioned, the Smoothstepper and KFlop are the two main ones, but the newer ethernet Smoothstepper is said to be far superior to the USB version

[Tom Kay]

Gerry and Gridvirt;

Thanks for the replies. I'll have to study what you've mentioned in your replies.
Since I have everything except the USB breakout board and Mach3, I'm reluctant to spend more on the things you've listed. However, I'll look.

So I guess another alternative is just try to get older computers with parallel ports?

Thanks, Tom.

[ger21]

There are still many new computers that come with parallel ports. Many have good success with Intel Atom computers. Motherboard and processor run between $75-$100.

Or, you can always buy a PCI parallel port card for $25.

[GridVirt]

If you don't have the extra $250-400 for a USB controller solution and don't have a parallel port on your PC motherboard go with the PCI card.

**You can get a parallel port card from cnc4pc for about $20.**

If you have a laptop the best rout to go is an external step pulse generator/controller most are USB or Ethernet.

An old referb PC or a mini-PC (Intel Atom) will set you back $100-200 just to get a parallel port that will only give you 45khz if you are lucky, 25khz if you want a stable signal. Then Mach3 will still cost you another $150.

25000hz / 200 steps per rev. / your micro step resolution * 60 sec = motor rpm
motor rpm / screw lead tpi = max velocity ipm

[Tom Kay]

Excellent guys. Thanks, this is helpful.

At the moment, I think my HP workstation does have a parallel port (I'llcheck), but I like your options if it doesn't have one.

I'd like a cheap approach, based on the equipment that I already have, before I leap into more spending.

Again, your replies have helped.

Cheers, Tom.

[UUU]

One user on the Emco PC Mill 50 thread has tried one of these ethernet motion controllers. It looks attractive, as it has an analogue output for VFD.

CS-Lab.s.c

[rowbare]

I just built a new controller PC using an Intel D525MWV Mini-ITX Motherboard. It comes with a dual-core Atom cpu, has a parallel port and costs about $80. I bought a mini case for about $60 and used some ram and a drive I had lying around. I haven't done much with it yet but so far it seems to be working well.

bob

[r00t4rd3d]

There are no USB breakout boards that will work with Mach3.

Pretty sure you can do it with a Pololu Motor Driver hooked to an Arduino.

[jonmessenger]

I use an arduino uno for my router table, i used an old z axis for the mount. it works well enough for that,because i want it slow, however the 16mhz clock speed makes it impractical for a cnc machine that is of any size.

[Yachaan]

Here is a free one, totally isolated, 5-axis.
It emulates a parallel port via USB.
[it follows a French design]

5aXis-USB-iso-BOB - CNCzone.com-The Largest Machinist Community on the net!