- Joined
- Jul 2, 2000
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- 941
This has nothing to do with knifemaking specifically but I thought some folks here might be knowledgeable (at least if the thread stays visible until after Blade)...
I'm in the middle of converting a plasma cutting table from a photosensor setup to CNC. I have a computer and I believe most of the software to send the instructions, and since the table already has the motors and stuff, I'm curious about something.
I can't find make/model/anything on the controller OR the photo sensor, so I don't know what kind of data transmission is going on or if I can set it up to connect to PC serial.
I'm curious if I can retain the controller and simply use G-Code through a PC to operate the table or if I need to get a new controller. Further, how can I be sure that a new controller would work with the table, and is there any sort of proprietary software for operating these things that is necessary?
I've used and setup CNC stuff before, but never actually "built" before, so these questions are nagging me (don't want to make any real mistakes). The machine is simply for plasma-cutting sheet steel on X/Y coordinates.
Any advice or comments, tutorials, whatever would be helpful!
I'm in the middle of converting a plasma cutting table from a photosensor setup to CNC. I have a computer and I believe most of the software to send the instructions, and since the table already has the motors and stuff, I'm curious about something.
I can't find make/model/anything on the controller OR the photo sensor, so I don't know what kind of data transmission is going on or if I can set it up to connect to PC serial.
I'm curious if I can retain the controller and simply use G-Code through a PC to operate the table or if I need to get a new controller. Further, how can I be sure that a new controller would work with the table, and is there any sort of proprietary software for operating these things that is necessary?
I've used and setup CNC stuff before, but never actually "built" before, so these questions are nagging me (don't want to make any real mistakes). The machine is simply for plasma-cutting sheet steel on X/Y coordinates.
Any advice or comments, tutorials, whatever would be helpful!