CNC Colchester chipmaster

[Ross77]

Hi Clive
Could you elaborate on using PP without a mesa card? all the posts I read say that PP wont install without a mesa card.

Do you not need the control card to take some processing power off the main pc?

[Clive S]

Hi Clive
Could you elaborate on using PP without a mesa card? all the posts I read say that PP wont install without a mesa card.

Do you not need the control card to take some processing power off the main pc?

Ross I think I might have mislead you. When I said using the PP I meant parallel port You can use LInuxcnc with the parallel port and a simple BOB to do threading on the lathe with an encoder on the spindle.

I am at this time using just Linuxcnc with the axis front end. But I might have a go with PathPilot

But I am pretty sure you can setup PathPilot also with the parallel port and a simple BOB. Did you have a read at the link by cncbasher on the tutorials to set it up. Tutorial three mention setting up PathPilot with the PP.

[Ross77]

Ah that make sense. yes I have been al over the place trying to get up to speed with it all. I've been watching the Path pilot demos and it look really good. so quick and easy for R&D as well as production. it looks like it can be fussy on the PC used so the costs are slowly creeping up. Might just try Linixcnc and shift to Pathpilot later.

Thanks

[Ross77]

Making progress with the electrical side and think I know which route to take.

So the next major challenge is whether to use the existing cross slide lead screw or fit a ball screw! theses not much room for a ballscrew so would have to mount it to the side for the carriage.

Options seem pretty limited. any pros and cons of mounting the ballscrew off axis vs. using the leadscrew?