I remember several people mentioning they're using old laptops to
control their machines. I thought most step/dir systems needed one
parallel port for every two axes. What do you do for three? Or, can
you somehow reconfigure the output pins for another step/dir channel by
forfeiting some of the extra I/O pins?
Some of the cheap laptops at
started me thinking. I was trying to find room in my basement shop to
setup my future CNC, but I can't find a spot for the CRT monitor! The
wall is the best place. I'd be happy saving space with a flatscreen LCD
display, but they're twice the cost of a used laptop.
Carlos Guillermo
VERVE Engineering & Design
