Quote Originally Posted by routerdriver View Post
I think you may have some confusion going on.Can you fill in a few details about your prior experience with CNC?

Briefly,you need an RS485 to communicate with the machine and it will be connected to a USB port on the computer.This is how you send the Gcode to the controller.Whether you use Vcarve or Fusion is your choice and either will cost you in one way or another.Commissioning and calibrating a router to perform all the functions that you need is not a small task and you are unlikely to improve on the functionality that the machine originally had.
RS485 seems to be using gnd, rx and tx only

I should just be able to use a PCI RS485 I think

I'll have to have another look for the software as I found both manuals so I'd think they'd have kept the software

I don't mind buying the software but I want to know it works first

the chicken and the egg

Look at my signature, I built a machine and have run Linuxcnc and a DDCSV which emulates a Fanuc

Cut some stuff with Vcarve and Fusion 360, know something about toolpaths

My machine lost it's settings but I'm getting that fixed so will have 2 machines a toy and a big one

I have a couple of people to help me work out how to use it properly and install everything like the vac pump and extraction, sort out the lube

I'm still amateur at CNC but I know enough to get me going and delve into the machine electronics

Although I have never done Servos before only steppers

I also have done a lot of stepper stuff on Arduinos for custom projects