xylotex boards and stepper questions

[abigroot]

I am almost complete with the building of my cnc router (60X60) and I have a few questions about stepper motors and coltrollers. I am currently looking at getting the xylotex 4 axis package (I will build it into an enclosure and wire it myself) and I was wondering a few things. First how well does it interface with MACH 3? second of all I plan on using a cnc4pc.com breakout board. The thing is I want to have limit switches an e-stop and possibly work on a remote pendant to interface with this all. I am reading that I will need to get a relay board (most likely) What relay board will I need to get? Short of resistors and other Radio Shack stuff, will these components work together:

1. Xylotex 4 axis board, power supply, and stepper motors
2. CNC4PC.com Breakout board
3. Mach 3 Software.
and
4. possibly a relay board (which one)

Any help would be...well helpful

Ken

[buscht]

I use the Xylotex 4 axis board with Mach 3. They work well together.
CNC4PC has relay boards along with their breakout board.

I am not sure how you would hook up the CNC4PC breakout board to the Xylotex without more work than its worth. The new Xylotex boards have screw connectors to all the pin ports not needed for the step and dir controls.

I heard a rumor that CNC4PC was designing a breakout board specifically for the Xylotex board, but I haven't seen one or asked the manufacturer about it. You should email him.

That's about all I know.
Trent

[ger21]

The Xylotex is a bit low powered for a 60" x 60" router. But if you can live with slower speeds, it should work OK. The Xylotex plugs directly in to the parallel port; no breakout board is needed.

But, for the easiest connection of limit and home switches, I'd get the CNC4PC bidirectional breakout board, and use it on a 2nd parallel port. You don't need a relay board for limit, home, or estop. You only need a relay board to turn on things like the spindle, or coolant or other devices.

The Xylotex will work fine with Mach3. Just plug it into the parallel port, and set up the correct pin assignments in Mach3 to match the board.