Any experience with cnc-step machines?

I am considering of buying a cnc milling machine.
 do have good Linux experience and own a Lasercutter (which came as a set to assemble), but I am new to this kind of machines. The cnc-step support confirmed that their milling machines can be run with Linux cnc, but with no support.
I didn't had any resuls with the forum search, hence the question(s):
-Is there experience with this particular machines?
-If not, what kind of information do I need to gather about the controller to get it working?
(here is the information of the site: www.cnc-step.com/5-channel-stepper-motor-controller/)

Let me know, if this is even the right way to start my information gathering or what a better approach I should do for this.

My recommendation would be to buy a Mesa 7i96s and do it yourself. You will get a better performing machine, probably for the same money without limitations from the parallel port

Not clear it it actually works with a parallel port.
it has a built in  controller with Ethernet connectivity.
Do they support LinuxCNC directly?

It seems to only have one (LPT like) connector
 

It seems those pics are bit outdated (or I got the wrong link. Here is the official manual:
www.cnc-step.com/wp-content/uploads/2021...-Series_Zero4_EN.pdf
Which clearly has an Ethernet connectivity (page 5 ff).

As for the "direct support" of LinuxCNC: I'm unsure.  This quote from from the specs sheet suggest so:
"Operating System with Software
KinetiC-NC, WINPC-NC, MACH3, EMC, Linux CNC:
Windows / Linux"

rodw wrote:

My recommendation would be to buy a Mesa 7i96s and do it yourself. You will get a better performing machine, probably for the same money without limitations from the parallel port
 

 

Well. do you mean to only use that controller and the mentioned machine or use the Mesa 7i96s an build the cnc hardware by myself?

I would ask them how LinuxCNC is supported.

If it's directly supported with their Ethernet interface
they must have sample configurations/drivers for LinuxCNC.

If it's only supported via the DB25 connector/LPT port
then you would need a PC with a parallel port or an Ethernet
to parallel device like the aforementioned 7I96S or similar.

In that case , it might be easier to just use whatever control
software that is compatible with their Ethernet interface.
 

mclien wrote:

rodw wrote:

My recommendation would be to buy a Mesa 7i96s and do it yourself. You will get a better performing machine, probably for the same money without limitations from the parallel port
 

 
Well. do you mean to only use that controller and the mentioned machine or use the Mesa 7i96s an build the cnc hardware by myself?

Build it yourself. For starters, it appears your box uses 24v power. Running them with a 48v power supply from 7i96s will near quadruple motor  torque.
I doubt Linuxcnc is supported via Ethernet.

The linuxcnc support is the big question.
It is neat to buy a ready-made box but you still need to have a place for stepper motor drivers so it is only half the solution.

Thanks so far for the information.
So first step is to ask the cnc.step guys if there is a config file for linux cnc for their machines.

After that (assuming it is more likely they don't) I have to guesstimate which way is more painless:
-how to get a working LinuxCNC machine, which includes some hands on hardware building and embedded software back and forth
-using the cnc-step machine with windows software to run it with the pain included by that. That would be the first windows PC to be administered by me in about 20 years. Which might be even more pain than the above (at least for me).