Stepper motors are designed to move in specific increments; these increments are called "steps". For example, a common standard is for 200 steps per full revolution. Microstepping is a method to send signals to the motor to move only a fraction of a full step at a time. For example, if a motor has 200 steps per revolution and is microstepped 1/16, then effectively there are 3200 small step movements (microsteps) per revolution instead of 200 larger ones. This makes the motion of the motor much smoother and more precisely controllable, at the cost of decreased holding torque.

Here are is a good references for stepper motor theory: http://users.ece.utexas.edu/~valvano/Datasheets/StepperMicrostep.pdf

And Wikipedia has a good overview as well:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepper_motor

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Therefore, the difference in 128th and 64th microstepping is increased resolution and smoothness for 128th microstepping, at the cost of decreased holding torque.

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What's the difference between 128 microstepping and 1-1/64 microstepping?

The parallel (printer cable) port is uses the computer as its main source of pulse trains to operate the motor driver directly. Parallel ports are a direct connection from the processor commonly referred to as GPIO pins (General Purpose I/O pins) and provides a convenient and powerful way to interface with the computer. The parallel breakout board is included in those kits only to condition those signals for use with the drivers.

The USB serves at the actual controller, sending the pulse trains, but the computer sends simple human readable instructions to the USB controller to tell the controller how to send pulses.

The non-technical differences that may serve as the most important information to you is that the parallel configurations allow for a wider variety of industry standard software that can be used to control the cnc machine. The USB that we offer requires the operator to use a software called Planet-CNC software which is a very well made and feature full cnc control software.

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USB Motion controller breakout board work with planet cnc software?

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PARALLEL BREAKOUT BOARD AND USB ITERFACE?

The parallel (printer cable) port is uses the computer as its main source of pulse trains to operate the motor driver directly. Parallel ports are a direct connection from the processor commonly referred to as GPIO pins (General Purpose I/O pins) and provides a convenient and powerful way to interface with the computer. The parallel breakout board is included in those kits only to condition those signals for use with the drivers.

The USB serves at the actual controller, sending the pulse trains, but the computer sends simple human readable instructions to the USB controller to tell the controller how to send pulses.

The non-technical differences that may serve as the most important information to you is that the parallel configurations allow for a wider variety of industry standard software that can be used to control the cnc machine. The USB that we offer requires the operator to use a software called Planet-CNC software which is a very well made and feature full cnc control software.

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USB Motion controller breakout board work with planet cnc software?

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRINTER CABLE PORT AND USB MOTOR KITS

The parallel (printer cable) port is uses the computer as its main source of pulse trains to operate the motor driver directly. Parallel ports are a direct connection from the processor commonly referred to as GPIO pins (General Purpose I/O pins) and provides a convenient and powerful way to interface with the computer. The parallel breakout board is included in those kits only to condition those signals for use with the drivers.

The USB serves at the actual controller, sending the pulse trains, but the computer sends simple human readable instructions to the USB controller to tell the controller how to send pulses.

The non-technical differences that may serve as the most important information to you is that the parallel configurations allow for a wider variety of industry standard software that can be used to control the cnc machine. The USB that we offer requires the operator to use a software called Planet-CNC software which is a very well made and feature full cnc control software.

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USB Motion controller breakout board work with planet cnc software?

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PARALLEL AND USB ELECTRONICS COMBOS MOTOR KITS

Standard Version Features Mach3 Mach4 Hobby Mach4 Industrial
Number of Planners 1 1 1
Number of Axis 6 6 6
Out of Band Axis (OBA) 0 1 6
Slave axis (uses up coordinated axes) 3 N/A N/A
Slave motors (does not use up coordinated axes) N/A 4 per Axis 4 per Axis
API Interface - Open to All Hardware Yes Yes Yes
Extended Plugin Support Yes Yes Yes
User customizable GUI Yes Yes Yes
Unified (GUI) Interface - PLC, CNC, etc.. Yes Yes
Unlimited IO Yes Yes Yes
Modbus PLC Yes Yes Yes
PMC (Ladder Logic addressing for cnc/plc) Yes Yes
Unlimited File Size Yes Yes
Tool Path Display Yes Yes Yes
Tool Path Speed & Quality Low High High
Scripting - Customization Yes Yes Yes
LUA Scripting - simple, fast, cross-platform Yes Yes
- Lua sockets (ftp, http, smtp,..) Yes Yes
- SSL (security layer) Yes Yes
- LFS (manage large files and data storage) Yes Yes
- Seriel port Yes Yes
- Enraving of part numbers / serial numbering of parts Yes Yes
- Plugin panel objects Yes Yes
IPC Library for Data Sharing/tracking (Interprocess communication) Yes Yes
Full Feature Screens/Controls Per Machine Type Yes Yes
Currently Availabe: Mill, Router, Lathe, 3d Printer Yes Yes
Multiple gcode Interpruters (Per Machine Type) Yes Yes
Probing - Intergrated in standard screens Yes Yes
Simulated 3d Machining (with additional plugin license) Yes Yes
Tool Life Management (G10 L3 command) Yes
Screw Mapping Yes
Professional Screen Designer (advanced G.U.I.) Yes
- Screen Animation Control Yes
- Screen Integrated Tool Table Control Yes
- Screen Integrated Work Offset Control Yes
- Screen Integrated gcode editor Yes
- Screen Artsoft Wizard Package Integration Yes
Macro B gcode Programming (#variables) Yes
- User definable gcodes via marco calls Yes
- Macro Calls: G65, G66, G66.1 Yes
- gcode via marco call (custom G codes via macro B) Yes
- mcode via macro call (custom M codes via macro B) Yes
- mcode via sub code (custom M code via sup program) Yes
- Conditional gcodes Yes
- set VN call - define variable names Yes
gcode Editor Included Yes
Scripted M code (custom M code via LUA script) Yes Yes
Variable Speed Spindle Yes Yes Yes
Spindle Relay Yes Yes Yes
Coolant relay Yes Yes Yes
Mist Relay Yes Yes Yes
Threading Yes Yes Yes
Rigid Tapping Yes Yes Yes
Single Block Yes Yes Yes
Block Delete Yes Yes Yes
Optional Stop Yes Yes Yes
MACH CNC CONTROL SOFTWARE MAIN FEATURES AND VERSION DIFFERENCES
Standard Version Features Mach3 Mach4 Hobby Mach4 Industrial
MACH CNC CONTROL SOFTWARE MAIN FEATURES AND VERSION DIFFERENCES
Cutter Comp Yes Yes Yes
Fanuc Type C Cutter Comp Yes Yes
Fixture Offsets Yes Yes Yes
G51 Scaling Yes Yes Yes
G92 Offsets Yes Yes Yes
G52 Offsets Yes Yes Yes
Event Driven Yes Yes
Multi Line MDI Yes Yes
Subs In MDI Yes Yes
OpenGL Optimization Yes Yes
Multi-platform OS Compatibility Option Yes Yes
Online Support Yes Yes Yes
Phone Support Option Available Yes
Support Priority Yes
Available to End Users as "Do-it-yourself" Yes Yes
Summary - Mach3 versus Mach4 :
Mach4 Hobby is the closest comparable version to Mach3, yet it is still much more advanced. The price point of these versions is nearly
identical. Mach3 is very popular for hobby enthusiest and is used in highly modified form by some great OEM's. In general, Mach4 is more
complex than Mach3 and follows cnc industry standards. Mach3 has many customizations to make it easier for hobby users, but can lead to
difficulties if users plan to apply their knowledge to more advanced systems. Mach4 is built as a full featured cnc controller capable of high
speed machining for servo and stepper systems. Mach3's feature set is complete, while Mach4's will continue to expand. If you are new to cnc,
Artsoft highly recommends using and learning Mach4 even if it appears that Mach3's feature set will be adequate for your needs.

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MACH3 AND MACH4?

3 axis machines cannot create undercuts in the part.

These videos show the capabilities of 3 and 5 axis machining:

3-axis CNC:

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WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 3 AXIS AND 5 CNC?

The first number is the amount of chromium that is contained in the stainless, i.e., 18 is 18% chromium. The second number is the amount of nickel, i.e., 8 stands for 8% nickel. So 18/8 means that this stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 18/10 is 18% chromium and 10% nickel. The higher the numbers the more corrosion resistant the material. 18/0 is a misleading designation. Both 18/8 and 18/10 contain nickel and are part of the grade family "300 series" stainless. 18/0 means that there is 18% chromium but zero nickel. When there is no nickel the stainless grade family is the "400 series". 400 series are not as corrosion resistant as the 300 series and are magnetic, where the 300 series are non-magnetic.

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROCK CRYSTAL ?

The parallel is the most versatile breakout board we have and will work with most of the software out there, but many computers are not equipped with parallel connectors anymore. Parallel adapter cards are available if you don't have a parallel connection on your computer.

The USB interface must be used only with the planet-cnc software, which is great software, but you are still limited to only that software application. This is actually the least expensive option unless you use linux and go with the above option.

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WHATISTHE DIFFERENCE WTIH THE PARALLEL BREAKOUT BOARD AND USB BOARD?

An axis is a direction of motion controlled by the CNC machine control. It can be linear (motion along a straight line) or circular (a rotary motion). The number of axes a machine has determines it's machining capabilities. A 2.5 axis machine really has three moving axes, but only two axes can move together (most machines sold today are full three axis machines). For machining centers, a three axis machine will have three linear axes. A four or five axis machine will have three linear axes as well as one or two rotary axes.

Note that 2.5 versus 3 axis has yet another context. 2.5 axis machining requires that the machine have three axes, but only two axes must be moving simultaneously at any one time. (Simple operations, like drilling and most milling, fall into this category). On the other hand 3-axis machining requires that all three axes be moving at the same time (More complex operations, like the machining of sculptured surfaces required in molds and airfoils, fall into this category.)

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN A 2.5 AXIS MACHINE?

The two main constraints on siting cellular base stations near residential areas are government exposure limits and local zoning ordinances. Various governments have limits for human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy that must be complied with in the siting of cellular base stations and other transmitters. In the United States, the relevant limits are those of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Cellular base stations use low-powered transmitters, and RF signal levels are invariably below FCC limits at any distance more than a few feet from the antennas. Thus it is entirely feasible to locate cellular base stations on rooftops of apartment buildings and to locate communications towers within residential areas and indeed these are both common practices. Local zoning ordinances are a different story. Local governments commonly restrict the location of communications towers through zoning ordinances, and they may have provisions that restrict cellular base stations in residential districts. Local attorneys or government officials should be consulted for advice about local requirements, which vary greatly among jurisdictions. Kenneth R. Foster Professor, Department of Bioengineering University of Pennsylvania

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THERE ANY STANDARD FOR A DISTANCE BETWEEN CELLULAR BASE STATION AND RESIDENTIAL AREA?

Drawing Cartoons

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WHAT COMMON BETWEEN KUTTY, SHANKAR, LAXMAN AND SUDHIR DAR?

You can expect a two week lead time for the redFrog pick and place machine.

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WHAT'S THE LEAD TIME FOR REDFROG?

It is not necessary to connect the spindle VFD (Variable Frequency Drive also called an Inverter) to the computer or CNC motion electronics. The VFD can be controlled independently using the control panel on the VFD. The control panel has the ability to control all aspects of the spindle including Speed, Torque, limits, etc. However, you can connect the VFD to the computer so the CNC control program can control the spindle during the CNC Machine operation. You will need to connect the VFD to the computer via a serial conection (in this case, it is the RS-485 protocol).

The following are instructions on how to connect the VFD to Mach3 via this RS-485 serial connection.

The first thing you will need is the dynamic link library to pair with mach3 called the Huanyang VFD Mach3 PlugIn. You can find this file at the mach3 support forum here: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,14182.0.html

You will also need to download the Microsoft .net 3.5 framework and install it: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21

Follow the pdf that comes with the library file, but here is a synopsis of what you need to do (I also added a lot more information that may be useful during this process as the manual does not cover the main connections that need to be done):

You will need to program your VFD so that it knows how to communicate with mach3 and the computer (go into the programming mode of the VFD and change these parameters):
- PD001 - value 2 - Enables with communication aspect of the VFD
- PD002 - value 2 - Enables frequency control from the communcations port
- PD163 - value 1 - VFD address
- PD164 - value 1 - Baud rate of 9600 (speed of the communication)
- PD165 - value 3 - 8N1 RTU - 8 bits (that's the size of the word that gets communicated), N (No parity or no error checking) and 1 (1 stop bit)

Copy the dll file to the PlugIns folder of mach3.

Connect the RX and TX lines to your computer. There are a couple ways you can do this, but the recommended way would be to use an FTDI USB device which converts a USB to a serial com port. The device will have Rx and Tx connectors to connect to the VFD terminals with the same labels. This method is recommended since serial ports are not as common in computers these days.

Next, you will need to configure mach3 to use the plugin library. Start mach3 and click on Menu -> config ->Config Plugins. Enable the new plugin by clicking on the red cross on the left column next to the plug in. Restart mach3 after doing this.

No you need to configure mach3 to use the HuanyangVFD plugin. Go to the ports & pins configuration and select the spindle setup tab. Make sure that the Disable Spindle Relays checkbox is unchecked. We don't want mach3 to output a signal for a relay since the spindle will start up and turn off within the VFD and not from an external relay.

Next, go to the HuanyangVFD settings by clicking on Menu -> plugin control -> HuanyangVFD. Set the parameters to the same settings you put into the VFD programming. The com port will be shown as new hardward when you plug in the USB FTDI device. A little bubble will be displayed at the bottom right where it will notify you that a new device is being installed (be patient while windows assigns a com port). Alternatively, you can use the windows device manager to see which port was set for the new USB FTDI device). You may need to restart mach3 several times until you get the correct information displayed in the PD001 and PD002 fields. When the com port is correct and the other parameters, like baud and VFD address is the same as you entered in the programming, then the PD001 and PD002 will show the number 2, otherwise, a 99 will appear which means that communication was not successful.

You can now control the on/off and RPM of the spindle using the RS485 communication between mach3 and the VFD.

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The question was how to connect the spindle to the redfy. I did not receive a VFD.
I have the redFly system and a 2.2kW Spindle - 110V how do i connect the spindle?

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If you received a spindle without a VFD, please contact us asap. Our spindle will not work without a VFD.

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Hi, how is this setup in mach4?

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I HAVE THE REDFLY SYSTEM AND A 2.2KW SPINDLE - 110V HOW DO CONNECT SPINDAL?

If you select the Settings Page and select or tick Auto Limit Override - this will allow you to back off the switch.

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limit and home switch

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IS THERE A WAY TO GET RID OF THE PARALLEL CABLE AND SOMEHOW USE USB ?

The parts list is located on this page: http://buildyourcnc.com/cnckitintro.aspx at the bottom of the description.

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DOES YOUR COMBO #1 WITH PLANS AND THE DVD COME COMPLETE PARTS LIST?

The lens is 20mm wide and a 50.6mm focal length (the one included). This lens will stand up to at least 30PSI air assist.

The mirrors are 25mm wide mirrors.

Focal length is the distance from the lens to the material for the laser converge into the best focal point. If a lens is listed as 2". You measure 2" from the lens to the material, this will be the tightest point the laser can go before it starts to re-expand again losing focus.

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WHAT ARE THE BLACKTOOTH LENS SIZES AND FOCAL LENGTH SPECIFICATIONS?

We don't have cad models of the HIWIN blocks, but you can find the models on McMaster.com. They have can drawings and models for most of these types of parts.

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DO YOU HAVE CAD AVAILABLE FOR THE HIWIN GUIDE BLOCKS SELL AND RAIL?

We don't have cad models of the HIWIN blocks, but you can find the models on McMaster.com. They have can drawings and models for most of these types of parts.

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DO YOU HAVE CAD AVAILABLE FOR THE HIWIN GUIDE BLOCKS SELL AND RAIL?

The ALL POWERFULL!!!

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WHAT'S THE BRAIN