Ditching Mach 3/4 LinuxCNC is The Plan!

Contract_Pilot wrote: The PMDX-107 provides the PMW 0-10V if i can get away with using my BOB i will use it since i already have it. From the posts i have read the pilot path software will not install unless it has a 5i25 or 6i25 installed in the PC.

if you feel you need assistance let me know , we can help with interfacing the pmdx
and or the 5i25 at a later date

as i presume the machine has been used with Mach3 ,
there is a conversion program stepconf which can help get you to linuxcnc
from their on changing to pathpilot or whatever will be a little easier

please bear in mind i'm in the UK so theirs time delays etc
but welcome to assist either way , if all this sounds traumatic !

PCW wrote: However I would suggest starting with linuxcnc 2.7 instead of pathpilot
(and perhaps using "linuxcnc features" for a conversational interface)

Not as pretty as pathpilot, but this works for me on my lathes, and works on any LinuxCNC config:
www.linuxcnc.org/index.php/english/forum...-macros?limitstart=0

It should be possible to reconfigure the Pathpilot config to work with a parallel port. You "just" need to change all the 5i25 pins to parallel port pins in the HAL.

The main reason to get a 5i25 would be that it can keep up with your spindle encoder counts.

andypugh, the main reason to get the mesa card is that for what I want to do it is required for the software install. So yes I am going to get a mesa card. Should be able to order the restore disk at the end of the week.

Contract_Pilot wrote: andypugh, the main reason to get the mesa card is that for what I want to do it is required for the software install.

I doubt it is, you most likely just won't get a working config without it.

It would be fun to find out.

Once the restore disk is ordered I guess it takes a week or so to be shipped. Not to high on their priority list unless you provide a machine serial. To bad they do not have a pay then download burn or make a boot able usb. The PC I will run it on my son at one time had a few versions of Linux on it in the past. Will install 2.7.0 this week and go from there. (Unless I can find/obtain an ISO of PathPilot) On another form users report the install hangs at the flash screen unless a mesa card is installed to be flashed.

Cannot order the disk till monday of next week so will find out about 2 weeks later.

For now will get the PC out of the attic and install LCNC 2.7.0 see if i can get it to go while waiting.

By the time it arrives i may just spring for the Mesa combo depends on funds available.