Trained monkey looking to level up!

[m_c]

As it's parallel port, you probably want to have some kind of plan in place should the PC die.
Getting a replacement PC with parallel port is doable, but they are getting a bit rarer and generally only available second hand, plus you can't go any newer than Windows 7 32bit.

What you'd potentially replace it with is more a case of how much you'd want to rework the control cabinet.
Something like a CNC drive UC100, or PMDX-411 should be a pretty much direct replacement for a parallel port.
Or you could switch to LinuxCNC which would allow you to keep using a parallel port on newer hardware.

Off course, you could do a more major rework of the control cabinet.
It all mostly depends on if you feel you'd benefit from a more involved upgrade.

[Mammers]

Thanks m_c. We're pootling along just fine at the moment, but you are right: there is the ever-present worry of PC failure and lack of parts. We've had some close calls.

I've never seen those motion controllers before, I'll have a read up on how I'd go about integrating one of those into our setup. Where did you learn about all this stuff?

[dazp1976]

Thanks m_c. We're pootling along just fine at the moment, but you are right: there is the ever-present worry of PC failure and lack of parts. We've had some close calls.

I've never seen those motion controllers before, I'll have a read up on how I'd go about integrating one of those into our setup. Where did you learn about all this stuff?

You could change controller to an ethernet one like a UC400eth. (Better than USB) .
Get a couple of IDC26 to DB25 cables. Then use your existing parallel board with it on one of the ports and just change the pin numbers accordingly. You then have a second port for another parallel board if you want to add any other items later on.
Chances are you'd only need to deal with power supplies in the box that's all.
I'm assuming your system is using 5v? that all stays the same.
You'd just need a small extra one to power the new controller. (the UC400eth needs 24v I believe).

[Mammers]

You could change controller to an ethernet one like a UC400eth. (Better than USB) .
Get a couple of IDC26 to DB25 cables. Then use your existing parallel board with it on one of the ports and just change the pin numbers accordingly. You then have a second port for another parallel board if you want to add any other items later on.
Chances are you'd only need to deal with power supplies in the box that's all.
I'm assuming your system is using 5v? that all stays the same.
You'd just need a small extra one to power the new controller. (the UC400eth needs 24v I believe).

That's really helpful, I'll certainly look into this aswell. Thank you.

[m_c]

Where did you learn about all this stuff?

I've been around this stuff for far longer than I'd care to admit

The main driver for how much you plan for replacement/upgrade will be how reliant you are on the machine.
If you can't really afford any down time, I'd probably look at creating a completely new control box with more modern drivers, and a suitable motion controller. The controllers already mentioned are only a couple of lots of options. More modern drivers are also likely to allow you to get a bit more performance out of the machine, but you are then heading towards the rabbit hole of how much you upgrade.

[Mammers]

I've been around this stuff for far longer than I'd care to admit

The main driver for how much you plan for replacement/upgrade will be how reliant you are on the machine.
If you can't really afford any down time, I'd probably look at creating a completely new control box with more modern drivers, and a suitable motion controller. The controllers already mentioned are only a couple of lots of options. More modern drivers are also likely to allow you to get a bit more performance out of the machine, but you are then heading towards the rabbit hole of how much you upgrade.

Hopefully one day I can be where you're at

It is our only machine, so we do rely fairly heavily on it. We're not so busy that any downtime is a real killer, but the prospect of machine failure is always in the back of my mind. Everything just seems so daunting!