Quote Originally Posted by iBeta View Post
Did wonder how an external motion controller can be 'better' than PP. If the mach3 is giving timing pulses via the parallel port, how can these be improved upon by an addon controller?
If I do end up having to use an external motion controller, can the autolevel signal still be connected directly to the PP? From others, it seems making a reliable pcb is impossible without autolevelling.
It's all about the Speed and Quality of the pulses. Technicly Mach3 PP driver is breaking all the Rules in relation to Windows. It basicly runs has a Virus in the background and windows knows nothing about it, in fact it kind of controls windows.!! Many Boffins told Art fennerty Mach designer it couldn't be done.!! . . .So he did it anyway.!!!
The done shot is that because it's software driven it's Timing/speed limited and to some degree quality limited.

Ex Motion control cards have dedicated hardware designed to optimise the task and provide crystal clear pulses. This means they can output much faster and stable pulse streams. They also relieve Mach3 of many funtions so lower the work load quite a lot.
The upshot is No missed steps due timing issues. Faster and smoother movement because the frequency of pulses can be much higher and higher quality pulses make for smoother running. Often people are suprised when they change from PP because the noise from the steppers changes.!!

You'll still be able to use Leveller with EX Mo because they take over the dutys of Inputs/outputs. Often doing a better job due timing issues etc and providing more of them.
Honestly is your using Mach3 don't bother with the PP. ( Linux is differant because it hasn't got Windows to deal)