Quote Originally Posted by Steve_p View Post
I would really like to have both my little Denfords on the same control so I'm considering Acorn for the mill too, but I'd probably need the 1616 I/O board for the ATC, and once you add that to the acorn, pro license and their (nice) pendant you're looking at £1k.
It doesn't end at the pro licence either, ATC is another extra cost. I' was considering using the OAK for the Fadal conversion untill I realised and checked with them that the ATC is another extra $550, as is ridged tapping and just to add insult to injury your limited to 4Mb G-code files and if you want to unlock to unlimited G-code it's another $250. So that's an extra $1350 on top of the $1600 for the basic controller. Then they want $105 per cable for each axis servo drives to fit there custom 50 pin connector. So that's $3300 plus shipping/taxes just for the controller and software with ATC, ridged tapping and unlimited G-code all of which should come as stanard in my book. Plus it still needs a fairly decent PC and touch screen monitor to get the best from it.

Compare this with the $5000 I've just paid for stand alone Industrial closed loop Absolute controller with 3 x 1.5Kw AC absolute Servo's/drives/cables and 7.5Kw Servo spindle/Drive deliverd to my door. All of which comes with as standard ATC, ridged tapping and large onboard memory for program storage with unlimited USB/Rs485 drip feeding and it's a joke.

Oh and they won't even entertain talking to you on the phone unless you take the support package. Instead they shunt you off to the forum.!!!