Build Diary - Plastic Fantastic - FW

[Al_]

I cant find the exact listing right now, but mine is over a year old and if it has a 'better quality' control box then I'd hate to see one of the newer ones! Mine has the generic blue control box, here's a picture of it.

IMG_20171012_133022724.jpg

As I said earlier the boards inside are not great designs are built down to eliminate every bit of cost they can. This control box also has the PC interface and stepper drivers as an all in one board (I know some others have them separate) so when a part on that board inevitably fails too it will mean replacing the whole board.

Another point to note about the older control boxes is that they are nearly all parallel port connectors and require a PC (not laptop) with a native parallel port, not one on an add in card. There are lots of old PCs going cheap on eBay with parallel ports but its another expense and hassle to bear in mind. Some of the newer control boxes reckon to be USB connections which would be much easier but I don't know how that would work with whatever software you plan on using to control it with.

Having said all that, don't let it put you off. I got mine to play around with and try and learn something along they way. I had no knowledge of any of this when I started and I'm starting to make some passable parts for my robots for now. For woods, plastics and soft metals (within reason) these machines seem good for getting started on, just keep their limitations in mind.

[Maxamuslead]

that stuff with the parallel board is a load of bull, but it is good to here that the blue control boxes better then some people are making out.

This is the one I am planning to buy but if the blue control boxes are fine i could get a "cheaper" one.

sorry for the thread hijack but what spindle are you using and did you cut Presser Point's crusher assembly (arm and frame) with it ?