New machine

[Simon]

Hello,

It's long here i posted something on here, but i'm building a new machine using my old simple controller boards, with the use of DB25 cables.
But i'm wondering if anybody has any experience with the NVEM or XHC controllers? And if so, are they any good?

[Bob La Londe]

I'm sorry. I don't have any experience with either of those acronyms.

I've been a strong proponent of ethernet smooth steppers with a designed for them breakout board, but now after having had a tormach in the shop for a few years running parts every day I've become a big fan of the basic Mesa boards.  The one in my machine is a 5i25 and it works pretty much flawlessly.

[dh42]

Hello

There is a lot of problems with NVEM ; hard to make working with the LAN, a lot of bugs and/or unmanaged functions of Mach3 .... IHMO not a good deal.

The XHC is a little better, but they also have a lot of bugs and is almost as expensive of a "good" board like Warp9 product (ESS) ou CNCdrive products ...(AXBB-E, UC400ETH ....)

++
David

[Simon]

Hi,

I've never seen these boards, have to look and search for them.

The machine is working, with 2 simple bob's, but still i come short of one input, and i'm curious if others work better.


Simon

[Bob La Londe]

An Ethernet smooth stepper has the equivalent of two full parallel ports, and the inputs for a third. That gives you up to 15 inputs if I remember correctly.

 The Mesa boards I believe can be configured as inputs or outputs on almost all of the pins.  I am not as familiar with them as I am the smooth steppers.

[dh42]

Hello

An Ethernet smooth stepper has the equivalent of two full parallel ports

For the Ethernet version, it's 3 // ports

With this board, you can directly connect your // BoBs to the ESS, no need to re-wire anything.

https://warp9td.com/

The CNCdrive products ; they works with Mach3 and also with UCCNC

https://www.cncdrive.com/

The UC400ETH is like the ESS, you can connect up to 3 // BoB on it and you can use the BoBs you already have. The UC300ETH alow to connect up to 5 // BoB and the AXBB-E as integrated BoBs (3)

PS: for CNCdrive products, you must add 27% of VAT to the price on the Web site.

Both Warp9 and CNCdrive have dedicated forums.

++
David

Edit: If you're living in USA, CNC4PC sells both ESS and UCxxx products
https://www.cnc4pc.com/

[Simon]

Is the C25XP, an all in one? I mean, can i connect my stepper drivers and all inputs outputs to it, Its 24 volts could hold 24 volt relays to turn on vacuum and spindle.

Im puzzled, Mesa has a lot of possibilities, and cnc4, also.

I believe this one is also ok: 5LPT-UC300 + UC300ETH, but then....... flat cables, and which boards, still need the screw terminals.

also this Mesa: 7I76D-6I25 PLUG-N-GO KIT, but new question, is Mesa just for linux or also for windows?

Simon

[dh42]

Is the C25XP, an all in one? I mean, can i connect my stepper drivers and all inputs outputs to it, Its 24 volts could hold 24 volt relays to turn on vacuum and spindle.

Yes, it's an all in one board with 5 integrated BoB, and in addition you can also add 3 other BoB or relay modules.

You can also use non expensive BoBs with the ESS/UCxxx, like the well know ST-V2.

++
David

[Garyhlucas]

For the CNC Router I am building for the high school FIRST robotics team I am leaning towards a Centroid Acorn controller. Centroid has been building pro CNCs for a long time and I like the idea of software and hardware from the same source.  All 24vdc I/O and runs on Windows 10. At around $400 for the hardware and basic level software and a couple hundred more for higher level capability it looks like a reasonable cost.

[Simon]

Is the C25XP, an all in one? I mean, can i connect my stepper drivers and all inputs outputs to it, Its 24 volts could hold 24 volt relays to turn on vacuum and spindle.

Yes, it's an all in one board with 5 integrated BoB, and in addition you can also add 3 other BoB or relay modules.

You can also use non expensive BoBs with the ESS/UCxxx, like the well know ST-V2.

++
David

Too bad, the smoothstepper isn't included, need to buy that one separately.
Still searching, and puzzling what to do, thanks for the reactions though!!!

Greetz Simon

[Bob La Londe]

The smoothstepper is a motion controller.  A breakout board is a break out board. 

[Simon]

Hello,

Got the new machine up and running, till now its working without problems, just little hickups on radius, think thats up to drawings.
I did go for the 300eth, from cncdrive.
Its working great on mach3 en UCCNC, all via ethernet, and a 5 port switch.

Grtz Simon
BTW, thanks guys, for pointing out cncdrive / cnc4pc, never came across them before. I like to say that man at cnc4pc is very friendly and helpfull, its just the cost overhere to get something out of the states
is to high.

Here its working on the dust collector:

https://youtu.be/CTeu4pQz57Q