I have three reasons for this project:
  1. I want to control my CNC systems from my Mac.
  2. I want to learn to program the PIC 32 processor.
  3. I want to see how hard it is to build a 64 pin TQFP board from scratch (Photo etch, solder, etc)

Overview
  The user will interface with the controller via USB port.
  The controller will have two DB25 I/O jacks to conect to BOBs.
  I plan to use the PIC32MX360F512L chip, which is used in the PIC started kit.
  All time critical actions will be done by the controller (not the user interface).
  The user interface program will run on Mac/Linux/PC.

I expect this project to take about 1 year to have a working controller and user interface.
I will start building this system once the MicroMill project is done.
The MicroMill will be used for testing the controller since the MicroMill only needs 12" by 12" of desktop space.

Draft of G code controller.


More to come once I start this part of the project.

Draft updated 27 Nov 2011