Plasma table + 4th axis

I got a 7i96 a while ago and recently picked up a 7i44 to break out to stmbl drives and realized the head pin cable connection is 26 vs 50 pin. I hope I didn't mess up there. 

 

Got myself a view sonic 24" TD2430 touch screen. Works great with linux cnc so far with my little testing.
 



I also got a WHB04B-6     6 Axis Pendant after finding some good info on it in the forums. Hopefully its not too challenging to setup. The build quality feels great so far! 
 

Parts look awesome!

Can anybody comment on the compatibility of the 7i96 and the 7i44? I looked up the pinouts for the 26 and 50 pin connectors and it doesn't look promising.
The whole point of using a 7i44 is to connect to the stmbl drives.

If it turns out to be a big hastle I will just order a 7i94 like my buddy has and be done with it. Of course that might mess with the ability to run a thcad for torch height...

Mesa 7i74 is a 25 pin 8 SSerial board, same as 7i44.
That still leaves you with 7i96 and THCAD and STMBL, and probably cost less.
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Never had a 7i44, but see if there is a possibility of using a 25pin header on both sides (one side of the connector to 7i44 will have to be ground a bit as not to bend the pins on insertion) with flat ribbon cable, and if that makes it possible to use part of the 7i44, maybe 4 channels?

Oh yeah I see the 7i74. Looks like I just ordered the wrong one.
I will buy the 7i74 and skip any headache of trying to get the 7i44 to work.

Thanks for the help tommy!