TEP educational CNC machine using TechCAD

[martinstokes]

I have come into possesion of a TEP CNC engraver that I think I can use for PCBS. Problem is that I cannot find the software it is supposed to work with or any information about it. Googling it brought me to this site where there is one thread from a while ago with dead links in.

The correct software is TechCAD but it does seem pretty rubbish from what I have read and I would prefer to get it going with EMC2 or Mach3 but I have no information about the protocol needed over the serial port connection. The original seller "http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/detail.asp?prodname=TechCAD&quick=1" was typically British when it comes to helpful replies "Sorry, this product was discontinued several years back" was all they could do to help me.

The machine has an RS232 connection presumably for data input but I have no information about the protocol, there is a PIC in the machine that receives the RS232 so I could disassemble it if nothing else came to light or I could simply throw the electronics away and fit a parallel port control system but that would be a shame as this is all working and in very good order.

I am looking for any documentation, the TechCAd software that was free originally with the machine, operators manual maybe, basically just anything that will get me going with something more than left right forward backward, up down that I have at the moment with the panel button.

Hello! I know it's a long time ago, but I wondered if you could give me any clues about software etc. I recently bought a tep engraver with serial port - it all works fine but I haven't a clue about where to find the software. Any advice gratefully received. Martin.

[Mjolinor]

Hello! I know it's a long time ago, but I wondered if you could give me any clues about software etc. I recently bought a tep engraver with serial port - it all works fine but I haven't a clue about where to find the software. Any advice gratefully received. Martin.

I have the software.

I can also tell you it is not worth the effort of getting it going. I replaced it all with RAMPS years ago.

http://rollingpast.com/john/techcad/

Please let me know when you have it so I can delete it from the server.

[martinstokes]

I have the software.

I can also tell you it is not worth the effort of getting it going. I replaced it all with RAMPS years ago.

http://rollingpast.com/john/techcad/

Please let me know when you have it so I can delete it from the server.

That was quick thank you so much ! I have downloaded the two zips so you can remove them. I hesitate to ask more questions after you have been so helpful and please excuse my total ignorance but I guess if it's zip I need to run on something like xp (I have xp and later windows, but use mainly linux) ? and what is RAMPS and how do I do that?

Thanks in advance

Martin.

[Mjolinor]

That was quick thank you so much ! I have downloaded the two zips so you can remove them. I hesitate to ask more questions after you have been so helpful and please excuse my total ignorance but I guess if it's zip I need to run on something like xp (I have xp and later windows, but use mainly linux) ? and what is RAMPS and how do I do that?

Thanks in advance

Martin.

Presumably you use Nautilus as a file manager if you are a Linux user. That will unzip the files, that is what made the files. I do not use any Windose products other than mice, that is the only thing they do correctly.

[martinstokes]

Presumably you use Nautilus as a file manager if you are a Linux user. That will unzip the files, that is what made the files. I do not use any Windose products other than mice, that is the only thing they do correctly.

Thanks. Can I run this TEP engraving machine with linuxcnc - it only has serial port on the cnc interface?

[Mjolinor]

Thanks. Can I run this TEP engraving machine with linuxcnc - it only has serial port on the cnc interface?

You can but not the software that I posted. That runs under Micro$haft only. I can't remember but it may be a DOS programme.

I disassembled the PIC and got LinuxCNC to sort of work but never really took it anywhere because an ON/OFF Z axis is not that useful so I just went all RAMPS with a proper Z axis.

I still have it but have not used it for years because it is just easier to order PCBs form China than it is to do them yourself.