THC help with Mach3 controller

[Kruzzz]

I am building my 1st plasma table and trying to wire torch heights controller to Mac 3 control board. I have found some wiring diagrams online but now I have no pins left for homing or emergency stop switch am I doing this wrong or do I need a different control board with more inputs. I believe I have heard of some people hooking torch heights controller directly tor directly to stepper motor drive but cannot find diagram on this my torch height controller is a CNC by PC model. Any help someone could give would be much appreciated everything else is done just stuck at this point.

[weldguy]

If this is the THC you are referring to it does not look as though it will control a motor directly.

Post back with more info on the other components in your controller setup and maybe someone else here will be familiar and able to help.

THC.PNG

[Kruzzz]

Yes thats it, I think I will get a new controler or smothstepper not sure of the differance any suggestions

[Plasma-art]

Ethernet Smoothstepper is a good option if you are lacking the I/O.

[34by151]

Mach3 is not great with an inbult THC.
The one you have still uses Mach3 for the THC3
Better to go for full standalone THC and offload the Z axis fully to the THC

For a standalone THC with stepper motor control of the Z axis , get the F1628D or AHA-L2
For DC motor control go for the XPTHC-4H

As you are considering a Smoothstepper I'd have a good think about Mach3
Your going to spend on a new controller and an THC

Far better to just get a mesa and go Linuxcnc. You will be far better off in the long run

[Plasma-art]

Far better to just get a mesa and go Linuxcnc. You will be far better off in the long run

I do agree on that if there are any mesa cards in stock or if you can get a used one.
That's the main reason I went with a second custom parallel BOB, not optimal but better then nothing.