Converting an old Parallel Port CNC controller board to USB using an Arduino

We have been using the an SMS-04 controller board and also a TB6560 5 Axis CNC controller board and to drive our CNC machine 

Our old Win95 PC died and we started looking for alternatives. The problem is that these old CNC controller use parallel port to connect to a PC rather than USB,  which is difficult to find a new PC with these Parallel ports. 

We therefore started looking at the USB alternatives 3-Axis CNC TB6560 Driver Board Controller Converter GRBL Arduino DB25. 

The normal printer type of USB to Parallel port converters don't work (yes,  we tested that too) as the pin outs are not consistent with the CNC machines pins.  

What we were looking for is something like this - but not quite,  as we need one more flexible for any type of CNC controller:

Arduino Uno Shield

• • https://www.tindie.com/products/Ron/arduino-grbl-to-db25-cnc-shield-kit/

This one  is using GRBL on a Arduino Nano: That's neat!

• • http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-3-Axis-CNC-TB6560-Driver-Board-Controller-Converter-GRBL-Arduino-Nano-DB25-/252804301315

Alternative options

The TB6560 CNC Stepper Motor Driver board

http://reprap.org/wiki/4_Axis_TB6560_CNC_Stepper_Motor_Driver_Board_Controller

The SMS-04 CNC controller that came with the CNC machine form Heiz

We started looking into Converting the Parallel Port CNC controller board to USB using an Arduino.

There are some nice and simple solutions that have been tested:

• • https://cnc4pc.com/motion-control/breakout-boards/arduino/db25-motion-controller-arduino-shield-w-tb6560-pinout.html

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0A9BLPatVY

  • http://maher-ramblings.blogspot.de/

  • https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/11352

  • https://www.tindie.com/products/Ron/arduino-grbl-to-db25-cnc-shield-kit/

  • http://www.instructables.com/id/3020-CNC-Arduino-GRBL-CNC-Shield-V3/

  • http://hackaday.com/2014/09/16/usb-to-db25-adapter-uses-grbl-for-parallel-port-cnc-communication/

  • http://www.diymachining.com/diy-cnc-controller-how-to-setup-your-arduino-gshield/

  • http://www.coreforge.com/blog/2014/08/grbl-tb6560-interface/

  • http://3dprintzothar.blogspot.de/2014/02/chinese-cnc-3040t-routermill.html

  • https://www.uelectronics.info/backup/tags/usb.html