Sim,

several suggestions:

Join the yahoo emco CNC users group which contains a huge amount of information (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Emco_cnc_users/info) as well as a number of people who have updated the interfaces to arrive at a modern solution.

If you have the 5CNC, I believe that the method is either rip everything out and install modern stepper drivers and steppers or to try and interface with the original 5 phase stepper based system.

For a 5PC, there is a simple rewiring job which allows direct driving of the lathe via Mach3 whilst retaining the existing hardware and steppers (this is the route I chose). Alternatively there are others who have replaced the steppers and added new drivers and an interface board

information about both are on the user group site along with schematics, drawings, etc

good luck!

Simon

I am struggling with my C5 , its fitted with the welturn board but the software is SO slow. You can switch out the welturn and use the keypad to input g-code but the tape drive is goosed and the video board is missing so i am stuck with direct entry .

if anyone has a video board i would be delighted to relieve them of it at whatever cost.

the yahoo emco C5 group seems to have stagnated however all the files are there still and very useful.