[109jb]

It depends what control software you are planning on using. There is LinuxCNC which runs on Linux, or Mach3 that runs on windows.

I currently use LinuxCNC and it has been great. However, as mentioned before you have a computer that is running a complete operating system as well as running the motion control software. There are tests you do to check the latency of the computer to determine how fast the system can respond to the realtime motion control software. The setting limit how fast you can run the machine so that the computer can keep up. Linux is a little finicky regarding hardware that it likes, but in general old hardware works really well. I use an old Pentium 4 desktop that a local company was going to throw away. Just needed a HDD. It runs fast enough that 200 IPM on my G0704 conversion is not a problem. There is hardware that other have tested and found to work exceptionally well, but my old PC works well enough for me. I am a bit concerned because of the old hardware. It is an old computer, old HDD, old memory, old everything. That is the main reason I am going to try GRBL. Oh by the way did I mention that the LinuxCNC control software is FREE and comes in an ISO that includes the Linux operating system. The ISO can be burned to a CD and booted from there to try it out.

Mach 3 I don't know much about. I do know that it costs about $150 if you want more than 500 lines of code. I tried the <500 line demo but couldn't get it to work to my satisfaction. LinuxCNC worked better for me. I do have to admit that I only tried it for a short while and went back to LinuxCNC. Mach3 is very customizable and lots of users here on the CNCZone use it. That is a plus if you need help. With Mach3 I believe the faster the computer the better off you are. I have seen quite a few posts talking about random errors while running mach3, but as I said, I don't use it so can't comment other than I have seen many posts about random errors. I also took note that Tormach, who are makers of production CNC machines recently switched from a Mach3 based system to a LinuxCNC based system. You can infer what you like from that.

These are probably the 2 most popular programs for CNC motion control. There are many others but these are the most popular.

As for the GRBL controller, the hardware for that is the Arduino and any computer that has USB to talk to it. There is a G-code front end called "Universal G-code Sender" that is Java based and as such can be used on Windows, Apple, or linux. The G-code sender program just send the G-code commands to the arduino via USB so there isn't much computing power needed.

Good luck.

[Wiggles84]

The smooth stepper takes the parallel port out of the equation on the computer side. It connects to the computer\laptop via a usb port or the Ethernet port depending on which version you get. The smooth stepper has ports that connect to the parallel port on the BoB on the back of your machine. It also lets you run on 32 or 64 bit versions of windows.

For my machine, I'm using an 2005 era XP machine that has a parallel port. but I was getting a weird pulse that made the stepper motors jerk while moving, sometimes even stalling the motors. I got it down to a minimum but it was still there. Once I got the smooth stepper and it went away!

Andrew

[louieatienza]

There are many options nowadays. The aforementioned PlanetCNC, FlashCut, EdingCNC, MicroKinetics... I personally prefer the EdingCNC interface. With most all control software you can download the demo and see if it fits the way you work...

[CMart]

This makes more sense. I didn't know if the smooth stepper worked with the parallel port or alone.

Looks like I will be on the lookout for a decent computer with a parallel port and start experimenting with the free version of mach3.

[CMart]

I picked up a rig to run this.

Desktop Unit
32 bit Windows 7
2.2 ghz processing
2 gigs ram
Video card
Parallel Port
18" thin monitor
Mouse, keyboard, etc
<$100

Should fit the bill for what Mach3 needs and was a nice cheap package. Will be starting to play with it this weekend. Any good beginner videos/tutorials for mach3 online?

[hoss2006]

Yes, the first few tutorial videos here will be a big help.
ArtSoft USA - Video Tutorials
Hoss

[davidlee64]

The 2 National Instrument cards look like 68 pin SCSI cards. One is PCI, and I suspect the other is a backplane card for some sort of server with 4 disk drives.
I doubt they will be of any use to you.

[CMart]

I made it a fair way through the intro videos, but at this point I am spending all my time building my car.

Anyone in the Milwaukee area I can pay to spend a day setting this up for me?

[CMart]

Is there a general setup for the HobbyCNC PRO Chopper Driver Board and Mach 3?

[louieatienza]

Is there a general setup for the HobbyCNC PRO Chopper Driver Board and Mach 3?

I'm not sure how good a performance you'll get with a HobbyCNC board... As they're unipolar boards, you're not utilizing the full coil of the stepper thus your torque will be lower than a bipolar drive. There is less inductance however so you may have higher torque at higher speeds, but that may not be necessarily good depending on the spindle speed and what you are machining. You may find higher torque at lower speeds more beneficial. Also you need a 5, 6, or 8 wire stepper, but you can use them with both drives. A 4 wire stepper will only work in a bipolar drive, unless you disassemble the stepper and tap one coil (NOT recommended!)

[CMart]

Well, good news I found someone using the Hobby CNC board and copied their settings into Mach3. Pulled up the mpg and got it moving!

To be on the safe side I am trying to set up my boundaries, but my steps must be way off. I go over an inch and it thinks I am going over 26".

Any good tutorials on how to calibrate this?

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esfsx9XiuRc

[louieatienza]

Well, good news I found someone using the Hobby CNC board and copied their settings into Mach3. Pulled up the mpg and got it moving!

To be on the safe side I am trying to set up my boundaries, but my steps must be way off. I go over an inch and it thinks I am going over 26".

Any good tutorials on how to calibrate this?

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esfsx9XiuRc

Change from mm to inch...

[CMart]

I am in inches.

I believe the calibration is just way off.

[awerby]

It sounds like the person who set up the XML file you copied set his machine up in inches, but your machine thinks it's in mm. So it's possible the "steps/unit" settings in Config/motor tuning are off by a factor of 25.4. Either that, or you need to give the machine a G20 command (in MDI) to put it back into inch operation.

[louieatienza]

I am in inches.

I believe the calibration is just way off.

Steps per unit = unit ÷ screw lead x motor steps per rev (usually 200) x microstep multiplier. So if you're in inches, have 5mm ballscrews, and yhe drive bosrd is set tp 8x,

Steps per unit = 25.4 ÷ 5 x 200 x 8 = 8128 steps per inch.

This is just an example...