I'm putting together my first CNC build. It is a G0704 and I'm using Hoss's instructions.
An unanticipated problem I'm having is that the BOB he recommends (and that I've already bought) requires a parallel interface. According to the Mach4 requirements, Parallel ports are only supported with their plugins using Windows 7.
Unfortunately, you can't buy Windows 7 anymore, and the computer I plan to use to run this thing doesn't have an operating system yet. I've tried to reclaim an older machine's Windows 7 Product Key, but since it was OEM, Microsoft won't let me download an ISO to install on this other machine.
So, I fear I might have to buy a different BOB that will support Mach4 using USB or some other interface.
What do you guys recommend for someone starting now. I'd hate to buy old software, and I really don't like using Parallel ports anyway since they are really out of date. I'm afraid I wasted money on this Parallel BOB, but I don't want to chase good money after bad by buying a bunch of out-dated software (even if I could find Windows 7 somewhere).
What do you guys recommend?