CandCNC Links Page.  Information is derived from vendors web sites.  Any inaccuracies should be brought to the attention of CandCNC.

Stepper and Servo drive sources (Hardware) Company Name Notes Website Xylotex Low cost micro-stepping drives for motors up to 2.5A.  Qualtity and good support. http://www.xylotex.com Gecko Micro Stepping drive (stepper) to 80V 7A and Servo drives to 20A.  Lots of information on the website.  Popular for larger machine applications.  Great support. http://www.GeckoDrives.com Rutex Australian based mfg of Servo Drives with higher voltage and current ratings.  Has US  reseller.  http://www.rutex.com PICO Systems Controllers for use with EMC only.  Servo feedback through EMC. http://pico-systems.com/motion.html Hobby CNC Unipolar Chopper type stepper drive.  Low cost but units are Kits (parts in a bag).  Build your own and save! http://www.hobbycnc.com   Hobby & Small Commercial Control Software (PC based) EMC Free open source Linux based motion control software.  Has features for both stepper and servo. FREE http://www.linuxcnc.org/ MACH 3 Windows (2000 & XP) based parallel port Step & Dir controller.  Free demo limited to 1000 lines of code.  On line support group at Yahoo (MACH1MACH2CNC). Over 3000 members 159.00 Free upgrades for life http://www.artofcnc.ca TURBOCNC DOS based parallel port step and direction software.  Low cost.  Runs on older PC's 65.00  Free upgrades http://www.dakeng.com/turbo.html DESKCNC Windows based motion control.  Requires external pulse card (proprietary) 350.00 Includes hardware step gen card http://www.deskcnc.com/ WINCNC Windows based motion control.  Requires internal PCI proprietary card.  Pricing is based on commercial usage.  Sold mostly through dealers and OEM's as part of a complete package. 1200.00 Includes PCI controller card. http://www.wincnc.net/   Breakout Boards and Other Input/Output Campbell Designs Long time provider of higher end breakout cards with plugin options like relay cards and spindle speed. http://www.campbelldesigns.com PMDX Good selection of qualtity Breakout cards and an innovative Gecko "motherboard" product.  http://www.PMDX.com CNC4PC Low cost breakout cards. Units are ala carte with separate power supply and options http://www.CNC4PC.com CandCNC (Us) Low cost Breakout cards.  Buffered & Isolated.  Rated for use with Gecko and Xylotex http://www.CandCNC.com         Torch Height Controllers Source Notes Website Price Range Campbell Designs THC300 product.  Over 200 sold.  Works with MACH2/3 Only.  Supports Anti-dive and touch-n-go referencing .  Lowest cost solution.  Port 1 signals not handled. http://www.campbelldesigns.com $350 - $390 CandCNC MP1000-THC 2nd generation THC for use with MACH3 only.  Two full ports of buffered and isolated signals.  100% digital.  LED readout.  Preset voltage values from console or MACH3 table. Anti-dive, Touch-n-go, custom screens. Other machine control features http://www.CandCNC.com/ $695.00 DynaTorch AVHC Stand alone unit.  Pre-pierce material sensing done using "force feedback of motor".  Software interface with non-DynaTorch software not addressed on site. Works with any controller or two axis machine.  Included in their "packages" http://www.dynatorch.com/avhtctrl.htm $1995.00 Torchmate Stand alone THC.  Can be used with any control software.  No provision for auto pre-pierce material sensing http://www.torchmate.com/height_control.htm $2399.95 Hypertherm ATHC "Command THC"  Commercial THC.  All the features you would expect from a machine costing this much.  Ohmic height sensing for initial pierce.  Total stand alone system. http://www.hypertherm.com/mech_systems/comm_thc.htm approx $10,000   Sources for electronic parts BGMicro Interesting variety of parts.  Good prices.  Good website. On line ordering. Fast shipping  In business 20 + years http://www.bgmicro.com Marlin P Jones Associates Wide selection of power supplies and transformers.  Good pricing http://www.MPJA.com Alltronics Another long time surplus electronics vendor.  Has a unique selection (eklectic?) of products.  http://www.alltronics.com C&H Sales Industrial type surplus.  Motors, mechanical parts http://www.candhsales.com American Science& Surplus Fun place to spend a few hours just reading the descriptions!  Everything from Arts and Crafts to Elecrical supplies. http://www.sciplus.com ElectricSurplus Poor website.  Good prices on capacitors (what they have) http://store.electricsurplusstore.com Jameco Full line distributor of electronics.  Fast same day shipping.  Likes small orders. http://www.jameco.com Digikey 500,000 parts in stock, rapid shipping, likes customers of all sizes.  Very helpful phone agents. http://www.digikey.com Surplus Sales Surplus electronics.  Lots of parts.  Pricing is high for surplus http://www.surplussales.com/