I’m looking at using Dimension Engineering Sabertooth drivers paired with their Kangaroo 2x motor controllers for a light duty CNC machine. I know these aren't industrial shop grade, but I have most of the parts to try it out with 2 axis (1028 line encoders, DC gear motors, Kangaroo units) so it seems worth testing. What I’m wondering is if there is a good way to synchronize these, and what interface hardware and machine control software I can use with them. They use RS-232 to take move commands consisting of a position and a speed. Each one runs 2 motors, and I would like to run a 3 units driving 6 motors, so I will need a way to communicate with several at once and synchronize them. On the hardware end should I install PCI serial cards in my PC, use a multi output USB to RS-232 adapter, or use some other kind of interface board? On the software end, can anyone recommend machine control software that will send G-code over RS-232? I've read that Mach 3 and EMC 2 do not.
Thanks!