@Paul_Frederick most normal people would be hard pressed to find a $12 PC, let alone make it work. While there are people who are comfortable enough to go from scrap to a functional system, or who generally enjoy the challenge, or dont value their time enough, the solutions you talk about are fine. For someone who wants something more turn key, the $500 they would spend on the masso gets them much further down the road (and quicker) than they would be otherwise. I know very well the cost of the components that go into even a mediocre CNC machine, and $500 for what is bundled in the masso is certainly not out of line. That said, I have one here on my desk that I will be replacing a mach4/ESS setup with next week, so we’ll see just how suitable it really is.
@Paul_Frederick Did order one for the RADDS project - http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=154143.0;attach=38354
@Oyvind_Amundsen
that’s the same file I was able to find. The only time spec I can find in there is Blanking Time. That’s the dead time switching motor phase I believe?
I plan to use some time trying to find a ok controller/driver combination (computer is no problem).
Do most users use LPT based controllers?
Do I get the best results if I use an old computer running XP and LPT + “old controller software” compared to a new computer + Ethernet based Controller?
Seems like USB based controllers have some noise problem?
Should I select a controller that is supported by Mach3/4?
@Oyvind_Amundsen
Oh what computer you use can definitely be a problem. How a system performs running real time tasks is difficult to predict. See this page to get an idea of how much variance there is http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Latency-Test
The important number is Max Jitter. Lower is better. You need less than 15,000 for software stepping with decent performance.
Old computers are generally crap. Old operating systems are likewise not the best things available today either. This taken together is something we like to call, “progress”.
Here’s some bedtime reading for you http://nv50.0fees.net/Doc/Mach3Mysteries.pdf
Because you’ve got a lot to learn. Art wrote Mach 3, so he knows about the topic the best.
USB is a polled, not an interrupted protocol. That is why it is inappropriate as a real time interface. There’s no guarantee your signal will arrive when you need it to.
@Paul_Frederick I ment computer is not a problem because I have access to a lot of different - from old with lpt to new - same with OS. I have a lot to learn, so thank you all for great input 
@Oyvind_Amundsen
A lot of people use Mach, it mostly works, they seem happy enough with it. But Mach is technically a pile of steaming crap. There’s just no way to sugar coat it. It was a fast hack to make some easy money. Mach is a port of NIST’s EMC code to Windows. LinuxCNC is also a fork of the same code base. Eventually Art sold his company, took the money, and ran.
That lead to the really bad time between Mach 3, and 4. I saw a lot of refugees wash up on the LinuxCNC shores then. Mostly lathe users, because the lathe routines in Mach were horribly broken.
All of that is an example of what anyone is setting themselves up for when they choose that development model. At any time things can happen, that leave you high, and dry. With little recourse on your part to adapt.
Open source is a more resilient model. In all that time the only drama that occurred with LinuxCNC was a name change due to a legal copyright issue. LinuxCNC used to be called EMC2.
Yeah we grumbled somewhat because of the change. But it was just the name. I do have to admit the new name more accurately reflects what the project is too.
Last night I was in the LinuxCNC IRC channel and a guy was having trouble with an add on LPT parallel port card. Adding those cards to new PCs without parallel ports is getting more difficult these days. Some of the PCI-e cards now are pretty lousy. He couldn’t get his to switch from SPP to EPP mode. Which made it useless.
There is info available about what boards work, and what don’t. I have a NetMos 9815 on a regular PCI card, and it works. I bought it because it was recommended in the documentation.
@Paul_Frederick so with mesanet controller you USE Linux ?
@Oyvind_Amundsen
I do not have a Mesa board. I just use the parallel port. But Mesa supports Linux. It is probably their preferred platform. If I asked PCW he’d probably laugh. Like, what, are you kidding? He practically lives in the LinuxCNC IRC channel. So he is a big supporter of his products on Linux.
All of this works on LinuxCNC:
https://store.mesanet.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=85
@Paul_Frederick I can help testing 
@Oyvind_Amundsen
So, now you think you’re talented enough to be a crash test dummy? Maybe.
@Paul_Frederick dummy yes
@Paul_Frederick But I love testing stuff - learning by doing. I have made most of the RADDS documentation (http://doku.radds.org) was new to 3D Printers when I started - learned a lot in the process. Learned Fusion360 while designing quadcopters, CNC…
I think building stuff/learning new things like this is great funhttp://doku.radds.org
@Oyvind_Amundsen
what does a 3D printer need 6 stepper motors for? 3D, three motors. OK I guess they need one for the filament feed too. Fusion 360 software does not run on my OS platform. AutoDesk should probably work on that. But I do not expect that they will. I cannot say I have ever run any CAD software I really liked. Building stuff can be fun though.
Whenever I need to design anything I have quite an extensive collection of drafting supplies. About all I don’t have at this point is a blueprint machine. Mainly because I don’t want one. They stink of ammonia. Plus I’ve no need to make prints of any of my drawings. One for me is enough.
@Paul_Frederick There is a lot going on in the 3D printer world. New stuff like three exturders for color/filament mixing…
About use cad or not - I guess we all have different ways to work. This is my way. You have yours…
I have to order most of the parts, so If I want to keep the costs down I have to plan what to buy. I think using cad is a great way to test different ideas… before I start on the real build - as with my CNC project where almost everything in the design is changed compared to my start design…
@Oyvind_Amundsen
sometimes I use CAD. But when I do it is Cardboard Aided Design.Or maybe Clay Aided Design? Here’s me modeling a tote for a hand plane. http://i.imgur.com/Va42qmJ.jpg When I have it just right I trace it onto the stock I cut out. Now that’s CAD!
@Paul_Frederick Cool, haven’t seen a good Frankenplane in a long time 
What did you weld it with?
@David_Kirtley
just a stick welder. Old dirty iron is pretty tough to get stuff to stick to. The sole still has a nasty hollow in it too that I noticed after I welded it up, that I wasn’t too thrilled about when I saw it. But it still planes pretty good. For a buck I figure I got my money’s worth. It is a Stanley No. 2. Or was. http://i.imgur.com/kNTYdYY.jpg
Hi! I have enought of Bosh 45x90 to build an awesome cnc machine. The only problem i’ve reached is that i cannot find any linear barings designed for it. What are you using or are planning for linear motion?
I`m going to use Bosh Rexroth 25mm rails on mine