The 'COMPUCUT' CNC interface. 

INTRODUCTION 
The package has three components:

1).  The SOFTWARE is provided on high density 3 1/2 inch disks. 
Please specify double density (720K) 3.5in disks if these are required. 

2).  The HARDWARE is approx. 8 * 8 * 1 3/4 inches, the base plate is 1/8
aluminium and is drilled to be easily fixed to the workshop wall or rear of
machine.  It is designed for continuous driving of THREE four-phase stepper
motors in uni-polar mode plus an uncommitted output, in FREE AIR or with
small fan assistance, at phase currents up to 5 amps at 30v dc.  This means
the interface can control FORTY AMPS maximum, comprising three motors each
drawing a current of 10 amps, plus 10 amps auxiliary output. Phase currents
above 2 amps (size 34 motors) will need a cooling fan for the 'dropper'
resistors.  Four input lines are monitored, allowing limit switching of the
X and Y axes.  All components are new, industrial quality, and rated well
above COMPUCUT specs. 

3).  The MANUAL (80 pages) combines a 'Self teaching course for absolute
beginners' with a full set of documentation.  Included is a list of
suppliers of suitable parts for a system, and detailed drawings of
suggestions on how to meet the mechanical criteria of ZERO leadscrew end
float, and ZERO leadscrew/nut backlash.

THE ABOVE SOFTWARE, HARDWARE AND DOCUMENTATION HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TOGETHER
TO PROVIDE AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING YOUR IDEAS INTO THE X, Y AND
Z MOVEMENTS OF YOUR MACHINE TOOL.

The varied example jobs are based on the mill/drill machine configuration
purely because it uses all three axes in the conventional manner.  The data
for 2-axes for lathe style and other configurations can easily be extracted
from the fully worked examples.

To use the COMPUCUT system YOU need to provide any old IBM compatible
computer (a 386 is ideal), a power supply and a machine adapted to stepper
motor drive.  The steppers can be any voltage and current up to 30v and
typically 5amp per phase.  They must be FOUR phase and capable of UNI-polar
drive, most 6 or 8 wire motors are, 4-wire motors are not.

The COMPUCUT interface runs from the parallel port (LPT1) of your computer.
 All versions of DOS support 2 printer ports, so a second COMPUCUT
interface can be added (LPT2) to support a further three stepper motors and
a second control output.

Follow these links for more details:
WHAT DO I DO? 
HELP WITH CIRCULAR AND OTHER COMPLEX DATA
IF YOU CAN DRAW IT, YOU CAN MAKE IT
Software Command Set

For further info please visit our website at www.compucutters.com or email
us at compucutters@compuserve.com