CNC plotter retrofit with Arduino

[torndirrup]

Hi All,
I have acquired a cnc engraver made circa 2000, I am having no luck running it as i recieved it as there was a hardware protect key that has been lost. It is a prety solid machine so i am looking into retrofitting the control to make it operational again

About me - I have a background in engineering and maintenance but I have no experience with microcontrollers and minimal experience with electronics.

What i am hoping for is some perspective and on whether what i am planning is viable, or if there is a better way.

The CNC currently has powermax 1.8deg step motors (3.52VDC, 3.3ADC - Unipolar), it also has IM483 step drivers which i am hoping to re-use.

Would it be possible to connect these to an arduino uno with cnc shield to control the driver (with an appropriate power supply).

If i am way off base let me know!

Thanks.

[wildbill]

@torndirrup

it also has IM483 step drivers which i am hoping to re-use.

That should help - it looks like those things take 5V, step and direction, so you can probably drive them directly (or nearly) from an Arduino.

[ruilviana]

@torndirrup

IM483

I use a board on my CNC that uses the USB interface and it works very well with
the MACH3/MACH4 software.
This board:
https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Control-Interface-Breakout-Stepper/dp/B076VK3X97

Below is the "lay-out" of your driver.
Ref: https://forums.parallax.com/discussion/83769/need-help-with-stepping-motor-driver-im483