DevCnc Foam by the devCad Team

The Arduino Uno is a well know board.

The devCad Team developed a totally new Firmware, optimized for Arduino Uno.
This firmware will be stored inside Arduino Uno directly on devCnc Foam startup, when you select it as the actual controller.

Using this setup you can:

1. Build your own controller, adding the preferred stepper drivers, limit switches and an optional HotWire management circuit/board.
2. Build an Usb interface to an old parallel port controller

Build your own controller

This can be a good choice if you want for example to use more powerful stepper drivers, referred to the ones supported by the Cnc Shield 3.00.
To do that You must just wire the right pins of Arduino Uno to your preferred stepper drivers, you can see the pin map table in the bottom side of this page.
You can also add separated limit switches, like for the Cnc Shield 3.00. Cause the limited number of available digital pins of Arduino Uno, just two pins are used, one for the Left and one for the Right carriage, read also "Hard Limits".
To optionally drive the Hotwire you can use the digital pin 11, and apply to it your circuit/board. It can be for example an electronic switch or a mosfet circuit. Read carefully the Arduino Uno data sheet.

Build an Usb interface to an old parallel port controller

If you own an old style parallel port controller, and you want to build an Usb interface, using this option is a simple way to go.
The pin out of Arduino Uno in this case follow the most common pin in of parallel port controllers, so the wiring is very simple.
According to your parallel port controller setup you can also wire its limit switches and Hotwire control, if available.
Cause the limited number of available digital pins of Arduino Uno, just two pins are used, one for the Left and one for the Right carriage, read also "Hard Limits".
Of course check well the manual of your controller, to have the right setup.

Then, all what you must do is:

• plug in the Arduino Usb port
• select Arduino Uno Naked - Parallel Port Interface in the "Controller type and output pins" page of the "Settings dialog"

At this point all the firmare setup will be performed by devCnc Foam, you must only set the right Steps per MM values of your Cnc, see the "Motors" page of the "Settings dialog".

You can find here more info about the pin out map of Arduino Uno:

Note: cause the limited pin number just 2 limit pins are used, one for the left and one for the right carriage