What is the advantage of using a motion controller rather than just a PC and BOB?

[m_c]

Guy's,

I was just about to ask a similar question so thanks for the information. Could I go a step further (no pun intended!) and ask for a recommendation for a MC. There are so many option Ive spent 2 day on eBay and am still confused.


I have a lathe/Mill so I want X,Y and Z stepper motors for sure and I wouldn't mind 1 spare channel for my rotary table.

I guess I will need some limit / home switch inputs.

I have a variable speed drive on the machine already so I need an output to that.

I would line to maintain the ability to thread so I think I need a couple of inputs for tacho position sensors.

Im just getting to grips with Autodesk Inventor, but haven't got a preference on Mach3 or LinuxCNC as a controller so open to suggestions / recommedations on that also.

Thanks in advance,

Ian.

Given those requirements, you're looking at 4-axis + the spindle. Depending on the motion controller, they may give a PWM option or dedicated 0-10V output, but if not, you'll need 5-axis combined with a step/dir to 0-10V interface.

The fact you need threading, eliminates quite a few controllers.
On the Windows side, starting at the cheaper end, I'd suggest looking at PMDX (best check on threading support, as I'm not 100% they support it yet), PoKeys, KFlop, SmoothStepper, and CS-Labs CSMIO-IP-A or S (M doesn't support threading), but you need to add an ENC module to support threading.
LinuxCNC, you need to compare the MESA options.