Small milling machine conversion to CNC

[pfredX1]

The electronics is easy enough. For a parallel port setup you need a Break Out Board and you connect step and direction signals to stepper motor drives, then you connect your stepper motors to your drives. That's about it unless you want to wire up limit switches too. Though there are other ways to go with the electronics. There is a lot of other stuff to learn about CNC too though. Like what makes a good stepper motor. And how to dial in your current limit.

This is the motion control software that I use
LinuxCNC

They have a forum and an IRC channel for support. They will get you up and running.

Here is a picture of my CNC machine control cabinet

http://i.imgur.com/2frKz9O.jpg

It is pretty basic. I built in in a gutted out old PC case. You can buy break out boards. They're pretty cheap today. I just made my own because I like electronics. I made my own drives too but I upgraded to better drive IC drives. They were only $8.50 a piece. I can't even make them that cheap. Now I have 3 matching drives.