PMDX-411 and an existing controller

[ToadSprockett]

I know this has been asked before, so please bear with me (I did search for a bit). I have an old K2CNC machine, it still works great, the controller is parallel based. With the Windows 10 parallel port debacle, and machines no longer supporting the port, I need to start looking at new solutions without having to completely rewire the CNC controller.

Would the PMDX manage the communication between the CNC Controller and Mach? I assume there is a good bit of setup for the interface, the problem the K2 machines is they are no longer around to help. I could do a breakout board but the one they have in there now is hand made, and I'm not sure I have the skills to just pull it out. The machine uses a Gecko g320 DC Servo Drive, and my assumption is that a breakout board would not be hard, I just don't understand the controller electronics, I just run the machine :)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You.

[Steve Stallings]

It may work directly, but I do not have the necessary documentation on
the K2CNC machine to tell you. If you have a manual for the K2CNC or
can send us a Mach3 configuration XML file for the K2CNC, we can verify
it for you.

The main issue is that the step and direction signals need to match one
of these two configurations:

Step on pins 2, 4, 6, and 8   Direction on pins 3, 5, 7, and 9

OR

Step on pins 3, 5, 7, and 9   Direction on pins 2, 4, 6, and 8

These two possibilities cover 95% or more of the interfaces
typically used with Mach, but there are some exceptions.