CNC controllers

Boozlefoot · #1 18-05-2017, 02:35 PM

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?

bojan · #2 18-05-2017, 02:44 PM

ASCOM will not talk to Mach3....

Have a look here:
http://www.stellarjourney.com/index....uipment_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 · #3 18-05-2017, 03:07 PM

Thanks Bojan!

bojan · #4 18-05-2017, 03:14 PM

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.