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If you remove the stepper motor from the ATC, does it spin unloaded? I'm asking because Sieg seemed to be suggesting you should play with the driver settings. Didn't work but can you get ANY life out...

As far as the first question goes, it's not too difficult to fit an external BOB that will then allow you to use either Mach 3 or LinuxCNC
There's a thorough write up here: ...