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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

I created a branch with a gmoccapy sample config: github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc/commits/nativecam
to test in a RIP environment.
I added NativeCAM as a submodule from github.com/freemoore/NativeCAM, so you need to run 'git submodule update --init --recursive' for the first time to get its content.
Please let me know if it works for you as well.



 

Yep. I'm thinking that there's enough copper in this machine, to cover the cost of a significant portion of this conversion.

I had a drive playing up and resetting to factory defaults fixed it
 

This is the correct wiring... I always had it wired like that, so the 7i77 and 7i84 are always powered.
 

 

When I flip the mains switch, I have 24.26V on rail 204 to ground (201).

I cut off the legs and then desoldered the remaining leg bits, removing the both NCV7608 chips. When I plug the 7i84 into the 7i77 and boot up (no field power connected) , I get a solid yellow LED on CR8, but that is all. None of the other LED's show any activity. LinuxCNC fails to load with a 7i84 pin unknown error.

Tommy, good idea to scope that 24V rail while switching some of the bigger relays, thanks. Since LinuxCNC faults out, I will need to work out how I can fake machine on and latched, to get the 200 rail powered as well, so be able to manual operate those relays with their test buttons.

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.

I know Tom has already tested this chipset, but I'll add some more details.

Model: PAR6408AXX100
Chipset: Sunix SUN2212
Interface: PCIe
Supports PS/2: YES
Supports EPP: NOT TESTED
Supports IN Mode: YES (In PS/2 Mode)
Supports X Mode: YES (In PS/2 Mode - Control port pins are open drain/collector)
Tested OS: linuxcnc-2.8.4 / Debian Buster
Tested Computer: Dell Optiplex 760





For IN and X Modes to work, mode has to be set to PS/2.

I couldn't figure out why, but a couple of times during my testing the mode changed itself to Standard Mode, whitch is not bi-directional. If one tries to use IN or X modes while in Standard Mode some pins won't work. 

Does anyone know what may be causing the ECR register to randomly reset to Standard Mode (0b000XXXXX) ? If I can't find a way to fix it I am thinking of setting a startup script to make sure the right mode is always in place.

I have also polished the "showport" utility created by Kirk Wallace.

Now one can set and read all 8 parallel port modes from on-board and PCI/PCIe cards.

Instead of showing only the numeric (decimal) value of each register, now it shows the mode name and respective binary value.

Command line is back compatible with original version, but now it is also possible to reference the modes by index.

Compile "sudo gcc -O2 -o showport showport.c"run with "sudo ./showport (base1) (extended1) (mode) (base2) (extended2) (mode) ...

For example - "sudo ./showport 21D0 21C8 1 21C0 21B8 4"
Modes Indexes:    
    0 = Standard Mode
    1 = PS/2 Mode
    2 = Parallel Port FIFO Mode
    3 = ECP FIFO Mode
    4 = EPP Mode
    5 = Reserved
    6 = FIFO Test Mode
    7 = Configuration Mode
    s = PS/2 Mode
    e = EPP Mode
    n = No change

For terminology reference:  wearcam.org/seatsale/programs/www.beyondlogic.org/ecp/ecp.htm



It is not always like this, but for a Sunix SUN2212 these are the addresses I've got. You have to search for two 8 byte addresses. 

Excellent idea, Tom!

For testing convenience I have extended the Parallel Port Tester from BigJohnT to also test in "IN" and "X" modes.  

     

Hi Sandro and inspirr,

I guess it is also now still not solved?
I have the same issue with the ECT60.
Do you think it is an software issue on the driver, which maybe could be fixed with new software?
 

Yes mb. -1 will give unlimited.
Eventually an extremely large program will take forever to load.

Is 40 the size in megabytes or something else?

Sure, "they don't make 'em like they used to."

However, the benefit of modern China stuff is that it's cheap, readily available, and more-or-less standardized. If I replace the steppers and drives, I'll have the same steppers and drives that countless others run. That will make potential issues easier to troubleshoot. Also, if something fails, it's cheap and easy to swap in a new component.

The DM860 is exactly what I'm considering. It seems to be well-regarded. However, from what I've read, it will not work properly with my existing steppers. I would need to go with a DM1182, instead.

Most stepper motors (except variable reluctance steppers) have permanent magnets. Modern steppers use rare earth magnets - making them smaller, more efficient, and more powerful. Brushless motors also have permanent magnets. Their magnets are located on the rotor, rather than in the stator (the reverse of brushed motors).

I understand that a transformer-type power supply will produce less noise (harmonics?) than a switching power supply. However, does it make that much of a difference in this application? Has anyone had trouble with a LinuxCNC system working correctly on a hobby-grade machine, due to the use of switching power supplies on the stepper drives? I can certainly investigate re-using one of the power supplies this machine came with - apparently, several others have done this. The appeal of the switching power supplies to me is that they are readily available and modular. However, I'm not "stuck" on using them!

I have absolutely no idea.

This machine has a huge cabinet for a power supply. That cabinet is full of transformers and such. I do not know if the power supply is "regulated" or "linear." When I look up those terms, they appear to refer to the same thing - a power supply that uses a transformer to regulate voltage, before rectifying and smoothing. What is the distinction I should look for? I'm positive that there are no modern switched power supplies in this machine.

I believe that this machine has several different voltages in the control cabinet. According to "Boss5" over at CNC Zone:
"You'd be spending your money in the wrong place. The original motors put out plenty if you feed them at the proper DC bus voltage and amperage. You should see 140 IPM with a 6 amp driver backed by a 160VDC bus. The matchbook sized hobby stuff is designed to run double stack size 34 motors, operates at relatively low voltage, and can generate about 200 watts under optimal conditions. Running torque starts at about 70% of holding torque values, and drops of rapidly with speed unless you have plenty of driver voltage to kick the motor in the rear and push out the constant torque zone (knee of the curve) to 1000 full steps per second and beyond, before it starts dropping. It takes serious voltage to overcome the winding inductance. If you are looking for 200 IPM, then spend money on new size 42 motors in conjunction with a proper driver.
You don't need a power supply, the stepper drivers of this style simply use 120 AC input. You can search ebay for used name brand American drives, like Pacific Scientific, Superior Slo Syn, Compumotor, or buy new China made product... goggle Leadshine. These are sold on ebay under various names, Keling appears to be a distributer that rebrands them. I'd go direct to the manufacturer's site, as it is very complete and they carry all the latest, not just old outdated models / stock. You can order online through their American distributor. Look for DM1182 or DM2282, these are digital drives sized for NEMA 42 steppers and you can buy the communications cable and download the programming software to tune for max performance, if needed. Runs around $200. A Gecko sets you back about ~$150, and then you need to build a power supply and provide a heatsink. If you want to save money, scout ebay and you should be able to find similar drives in the $75-150 range used from the previously mentioned American manufacturers, but they won't be digital programable, however robust for sure. Like I said, ditch the hobby stuff, get serious. Remember to wire the motor windings in series, they will accept 6 amps RMS (8.2 amps peak) without overheating, but make sure to use the current reduction when idle. FYI, the Bridgeport factory settings were 8.2 amps per winding unipolar, driven by 56 volts DC per winding. Wired in series, the heat load is identical to the factory setting if you use 6 amps RMS with a modern bipolar drive, and the windings will each see approximately 80 volts, thus the reliable top speed will increase to about 140 IPM, rather than 100 IPM. Make sure the machine ways are well lubed, it makes a difference."

I have no idea if any part of this machine works. I have not attempted to apply power to it, nor do I have access to 460V 3-phase power in my shop. It looks like the mice living in the bottom of the control cabinet might have been nibbling on some wires. Most of these sat in the corner of a shop for decades. They spoke a proprietary language, and the way you provided them programming was by a reel-to-reel tape drive that read holes on a punched paper tape. These machines were basically obsolete when they were new.

Your 55 holes should be fine, in quadrature that would give 220 counts/rev.
This is a little blurb I wrote about putting a spindle encoder on a Bridgeport head, using the bull gear as the encoder "disc". Pretty much similar to what you are suggesting.
Jon