"Jon Anderson" wrote in message
...
On 7/18/2011 6:33 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I ran the MaxNC software in DOS mode briefly on a laptop to test it
when I sold the controller and motors. I did not care for it, but it
did seem to work.

Yeah, it's about as basic as it gets. Doing some poking around, I still
have a copy of TurboCNC too, which requires no special card and is a lot
more capable than the Max software.

I can see the desire for a laptop with the desire for a portable
machine though. The other alternative if you can't find the ideal
laptop is to use a Smoothstepper via USB to provide the LPT port.

Yes, still would like a portable setup if feasible, thus the laptop.
Budget is, cheaper the better, as is often the case with DIY projects...
G I just gave away a Gateway last month that had a full parallel port,
and there are cheaper alternatives than the Smoothstepper to insure full
voltage at the port.

Well, I'm not defending the SS interface particularly since I don't own one,
but it seems to me it does a lot more than just provide correct voltage on
the pins. Goes from USB to LPT. Provides dual LPT breakout. Removes
signal processing and CPU time usage from the CPU and processes them
directly. I am running upwards of a million lines of code now with a PCI
LPT port and a G540, so your certainly don't need one. I was just
suggesting it to meet the limited capabilities of many laptops. A cheap USB
LPT interface will not work. Several people have tried them.

There are also cheaper optically isolated LPT BOBs that will allow you to
use an external power supply to guarantee full 5+ voltage on all your pins.
The SS just seemed the quicker easier way to go given all your constraints.
You can use it directly into stepper drivers or even into servo drivers that
accept step direction signals. Plug it into the USB port. Hook it to your
drivers.