Which Mesa Card Should I Buy?

rodw wrote:

Spumeco, Now you just need to add one for a mill and lathe 

 

Okey-dokey.

Gang-tool lathe
7i96s/7i85s/7i84D/7i73
3 spindles (servo-main, servo-sub, VFD live-tool)
Headstock mounted part-off slide
XZ linear scales
Encoders for main/sub/V-axis
Air control for main & sub drawbar, 3/ea mists, plus two automation cylinders (part load/unload)

 

4-axis mill
7i76e/7i73
Steppers on XYZ
Servo on harmonic A
VFD spindle w/1:1 timing belt drive - motor encoder goes to 7i76e
PDB
18-station carousel ATC, stepper driven w/5:1 planetary

 

spumco wrote:

8 - PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
[...]
Below is a sample chart of common Mesa cards, reasonably accurate as of the thread posting date.  Double check the values in the chart and use it to narrow down your selection(s).

 

 
 

I am a complete beginner and still in the process of deciding which board(s) to buy so this thread has been amazing. Thanks!

Small thing that I may or may not have caught, though. In the list the 7i96s shows a 0 at MPG. But while not having designated MPG pins per say, it can supposedly convert some other pins to run an MPG. Maybe one of the axis banks or something like that?
So, say, for a 4 axis machine with one stepper/servo on each axis (like what I am aiming for) the 7i96s still has one axis not being used and hence, if I am correct, can still work with an MPG.
Maybe worth making a note of as I would think a lot of people buying that board will only use 3-4 axis:)

The 7I96S can have up to 4 MPGs on its isolated inputs