CNC controllers

[Boozlefoot]

Anyone have any experience adapting a CNC controller to operate steppers to belt drive a pillow block GEM? I'm fairly confident for a manual version, and am wondering if it would be adaptable to use with an ASCOM type program. Would the ASCOM programs be able to "talk" with Mach3 for instance?:question:

[bojan]

ASCOM will not talk to Mach3....

Have a look here:
http://www.stellarjourney.com/index.php?r=site/equipment_onstep

I am using Arduino Mega board with RAMPS1.4 (widely used for 3D printers and small CNC machines).

OnStep firmware will talk to any PC planetarium via ASCOM, or direcly via LX200 protocol.

[Boozlefoot]

Thanks Bojan! :)

[bojan]

My apologies for possible confusion: it is not RAMPS1.4 shield, only the stepper drivers are the same as those used for RAMPS1.4.
I have them mounted inside my EQ6.

Of course, in principle you can rewire RAMPS1.4... or re-map OnStep firmware, if you really want to do it.