PrtAlpha Electronics

[HunterC]

Hi I am looking at purchasing a Shopbot prtAlpha and wanted to know if anyone knows how these electronics interface with shopbots software or if they use another. Anything helps thanks Hunter!

[srwtlc]

Ah, an old BotRods controller! Close to 20 years old by now, perhaps. It should run up to SB3 v3.6.46, but since the SB 4g controller is basically a clone of it, it might be able to run a higher version (depends on the controller card revision). That said, if you're buying a PRT Alpha, I don't think it would work with the motors on it. If you did get it to work with the motors, it would only be an open-loop system at that point, and a downgrade from the PRT Alpha controller. If what you're buying is really a PRT standard, then the controller on it may likely be the 4G version, and is basically the same. No matter what it is, you'd be better off buying or building a new Centroid Acorn system for it. If those drivers are good, you could reuse them in a new build, but why, when you could go closed loop using current technology. Gecko has replaced those drivers with another version.