Recommendation for Upgrading an Original parallel port KX1 to USB or Ethernet

[Doddy]

If you have a spindle that can only be driven by step/dir, and the Pokeys57CNCdb25 can only output PWM, it's not rocket science to convert PWM to step/dir if that floats your boat. I'd start with an Arduino nano and a bit of hand cranked sw. Not for everyone and maybe a bit Heath Robinson, but it saves capital expenditure.

[JimG]

If you have a spindle that can only be driven by step/dir, and the Pokeys57CNCdb25 can only output PWM, it's not rocket science to convert PWM to step/dir if that floats your boat. I'd start with an Arduino nano and a bit of hand cranked sw. Not for everyone and maybe a bit Heath Robinson, but it saves capital expenditure.

If I was a good bit younger, I might be tempted - I've just had a Covid jab, so that will give you a ball park idea of my age. :-)

The Seig machines were marketed as turnkey and that's why I got one - so that I avoided the hassle of getting my hands dirty with having to delve under the hood to get things working. And up till now that has worked for me, and I was hoping for a "plug and play" product to do the conversion from parallel port to USB or Ethernet.

I'll probably give another product a go to see if I get a quick solution, but if not, I will probably have to resort to doing what you suggest to avoid this KX1 becoming a boat anchor - in excellent nick. :-)

Jim.