CNC machine g-code

[Gliddenre]

Hey everyone. I'm new to this site. I don't know if anyone can help but here is my question. Does anyone know what Machine output format is used by a Redonda cnc controller? I think it has a .tap extension. I bought the machine used and cannot contact the previous owner. I hope someone can help.
Thank you.

[Kean]

Welcome to EEVblog forums.

I don't know anything about Redonda CNC controllers, but there is a reference to them in another forum post here and almost nothing else useful I could find via a quick Google search.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/cnc-pcb-engraver-machine-review-kindof/

From what I could find, I think the CNC controller you are referring to is probably just a parallel port connected motor driver?  If so, it requires control via a G-code interpreter on a PC using software like Mach3.  Or if it is USB connected, it could be running on an Arduino and using grbl as the G-code interpreter.

Either way, .tap is a file name extension sometimes used for G-code.  I don't know the history behind the tap extension, but presumably it is related to either "paper tape" as used with very early CNC machines, or possibly a short form of "tool path"?

I run a few desktop CNC's including 6040 style controlled by Mach3.  I'm happy to try help further if you post some photos of what you have.  CNC Zone is another great forum with people specialising in this area.

[edfarrington93]

I'm not sure about that specific machine, but as long as the program format is correct many machines will accept .NC .TXT and many other extensions. Some machines are particular, some aren't. From what I have seem, many of the more hobby oriented machines are particular about things that industrial machines aren't, which seems kind of backwards, but leave it to an overachieving engineer to totally screw up something that should be straightforward and uncomplicated. You can always try sending it as an .NC file and see if it will accept it, that's the standard extension for most industrial CNC machines.