PC Upgrade Options?

[A_Camera]

So I have an oldish PC that I got with my Emco Lathe. Its slow and can do with an upgrade. The issue is parallel port needed.

I found this - http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/7453-...-parrelel-port (see, I did search) however that talks about newer controllers.

What are my options for either a new PC of sorts with a parallel port? Am I better off getting another controller? I dont know what make is in the machine at the moment but its probably a fair cheap / standard type device. The machine uses steppers for X, Y and the toolchanger.

Thanks

First we need to know the software you are using. Is it Mach3? If yes than you have several options, assuming you buy a brand new PC. Cheapest is to buy a UC100, plug it in to one USB and the other end into your parallel port input of the lathe, configure the UC100 and off you go after a few minutes. The next option is to buy a UC400ETH and do the same through Ethernet. Note that this requires a box and a small power supply as well, so it is more complicated and more expensive. Anyway, I am using Mach3 under Windows 10 Pro 64bits with UC300 and that combo works excellent. No problems with Mach3 at all. The price of a UC100 is about £100 so it is not really expensive. It is easy to set it up and get it going.

Other alternatives are to buy a PC which has Windows 7 32 bits in it and continue using a parallel port as today, just install your software and whatever you need. Of course, this gives you an outdated computer to start with, so you must be prepared to upgrade again soon.

There are other alternatives to the UCx00 also, but I have no idea about them. Also, I can not help you if you are using Linux.

[Chaz]

First we need to know the software you are using. Is it Mach3? If yes than you have several options, assuming you buy a brand new PC. Cheapest is to buy a UC100, plug it in to one USB and the other end into your parallel port input of the lathe, configure the UC100 and off you go after a few minutes. The next option is to buy a UC400ETH and do the same through Ethernet. Note that this requires a box and a small power supply as well, so it is more complicated and more expensive. Anyway, I am using Mach3 under Windows 10 Pro 64bits with UC300 and that combo works excellent. No problems with Mach3 at all. The price of a UC100 is about £100 so it is not really expensive. It is easy to set it up and get it going.

Other alternatives are to buy a PC which has Windows 7 32 bits in it and continue using a parallel port as today, just install your software and whatever you need. Of course, this gives you an outdated computer to start with, so you must be prepared to upgrade again soon.

There are other alternatives to the UCx00 also, but I have no idea about them. Also, I can not help you if you are using Linux.

Thanks. Appreciate the info. Using Mach3. Will check the devices mentioned. Are they reliable? A bit weary of interfaces that are not 'native', specifically USB which has its own issues.

[Chaz]

Just took a look at the controller. This is a standalone controller and replaces the board I have or is it only a 'interface' changer from USB to Parallel port?

[A_Camera]

Just took a look at the controller. This is a standalone controller and replaces the board I have or is it only a 'interface' changer from USB to Parallel port?

The UCx00 replaces the need for parallel port in the computer. UC100 and UC300 are plugged in to a USB port, the UC400 is an Ethernet controller and is plugged into a local network just like any other network device, like your PC. You can also plug it directly into the PC.

The UC100 is like a printer port converter, it converts USB to parallel port signals directly and you can plug it into the cable you have from your lathe. Nothing else is needed.

The UC300 converts the USB into 5 parallel ports and it has also separate analog outputs and inputs, but needs a box and a short ribbon cable to allow plugging it in to the lathe cable. I think it is delivered with one such ribbon cable. Power can be taken from the USB, or a separate 5VDC supply to supply power to the UC300.

The UC400 has two parallel ports out, nothing else. It needs also a box and a separate power supply because Ethernet does not carry the power, plus a similar ribbon cable as for the UC300.

I have only experience with the UC300, but based on my experience and what I read about the others, I trust the company and their products. It provides very good support via mail, Balazs (the owner) speaks/writes in very good English and replies fast to any questions. Everything is made in Hungary and in my opinion well documented. I bought mine directly from CNCDrive.

[Boyan Silyavski]

HI Chaz,

All these controllers are stand alone, no PC, no Mach3. It seems they accept standard G code, so no special post processors. That must be proven though by practice.

lets resume:

-there is this controller smc4-4-16a16b . Here is the manual I looked at it but it seemed too slow for my machine. It seems most people use this one as it came earlier.





-DDSCV1.1, 3 and 4 axis.

I bought this one before 2 days. Mistakenly bought the 3 axis version / if sb wants that one , PM me, i will give it 20$ cheaper to you/ . Anyways, it seems on paper and from what i have seen a better choice than the previous one. When it comes at home, i will know more. I have read the MANUAl from page one to end very carefully and apart from some small questions all looks well.

And yes, i will connect my 2 long axis to one of the controller axis or just one of them and control the other from the servo itself . Will see about that.

Here is the most extensive info in English i found till now



- 450-700euro range

you could find them at aliexpress using "offline cnc control" or " panel cnc" . John pointed them to me, he is playing with some 2 axis one for lathe, so he should know better #4 . I found this site http://www.cncmakers.com/cnc/control...roller_System/ where you could better see all their reincarnations.

Now the problem here lies to find who makes them / as all sell them like they make them but that's not the case/ , the manuals and eventual support. The link above has somewhere the manuals so next step for me would be to read the manuals themselves and buy one controller.

[Chaz]

HI Chaz,

All these controllers are stand alone, no PC, no Mach3. It seems they accept standard G code, so no special post processors. That must be proven though by practice.

lets resume:

-there is this controller smc4-4-16a16b . Here is the manual I looked at it but it seemed too slow for my machine. It seems most people use this one as it came earlier.





-DDSCV1.1, 3 and 4 axis.

I bought this one before 2 days. Mistakenly bought the 3 axis version / if sb wants that one , PM me, i will give it 20$ cheaper to you/ . Anyways, it seems on paper and from what i have seen a better choice than the previous one. When it comes at home, i will know more. I have read the MANUAl from page one to end very carefully and apart from some small questions all looks well.

And yes, i will connect my 2 long axis to one of the controller axis or just one of them and control the other from the servo itself . Will see about that.

Here is the most extensive info in English i found till now



- 450-700euro range

you could find them at aliexpress using "offline cnc control" or " panel cnc" . John pointed them to me, he is playing with some 2 axis one for lathe, so he should know better #4 . I found this site http://www.cncmakers.com/cnc/control...roller_System/ where you could better see all their reincarnations.

Now the problem here lies to find who makes them / as all sell them like they make them but that's not the case/ , the manuals and eventual support. The link above has somewhere the manuals so next step for me would be to read the manuals themselves and buy one controller.

Thanks. Would the base unit work for my lathe (XZ and A for Turrent)? What cost roughly?

[Boyan Silyavski]

Thanks. Would the base unit work for my lathe (XZ and A for Turrent)? What cost roughly?

The 3 axis i bought for 165$. What is not clear if one axis could be mapped as circular, its clear that on the 4 axis controller that could be done, the 4rth axis is rotational. What is not clear there is if on the 4rth axis 2 axis could be slaved together for my type of machine and change type of 4rth axis. I reread the manual, but that is not explained. I guess that the controller has to be in my hands so i know for sure.


Now the more expensive ones have dedicated ones for lathe, so they could do a lot of stuff. Like the one John bought. They are more expensive and if working, i believe quite worth the money. At the end these controllers should work, as all advanced chinese machines have them fitted.

By the way i think GSK may be the real manufacturer of the more complex controllers https://issuu.com/pandaweb/docs/2012...r_introduction ignore the GSK infront of number, thats how you find them on aliexpress to check prices. I think one of these bought from a reputable seller that could provide support in English could be a nice thing.

In both cases cheap or expensive, its worth trying i believe.