Time for a purpose built motion control computer.

[Robin Hewitt]

I have a little chip sitting right beside me, 80MHz clock, 1/2MB flash, 32k RAM and something like 80 I/O pins, it costs about £5.

I have a little chip, 40MHz, 64 pins, £1.88 at 1000 off, already soldered to a PCB.

On the back 4 RJ45 sockets for 3 stepper drivers and 1 phase converter, 3 switched outputs, 6 buffered inputs, 1 USB socket and one header plug to connect one of those big fat positioning knobs. On the front an RJ45 for the pendant, a spindle speed knob, 5 push buttons and one concealed RST button.

I built if for my machine so it has everything I want. Would work for anyone who built their machine around it, but people build their machine then think about how to control it. Cart before the horse perhaps, but that's exactly what I did :naughty: