Thank you all for the good advise... The current setup on the router is not pc based - I was only referring to the 286 motherboard and technology that Thermwood used at the time. This will be more of a hobby router for me, and I simply can't put 15k more into it or my wife will divorce me!
So far to this point, with wiring, vacuum setups, delivery, and all the other monies spent on the machine I have 28k into it. I know this is money lost and I cannot re-coup these funds, but it's more than disheartening to know that after such an investment I do not have a functioning system. Stupid investment on my part and if I could change it, I would, believe me. Guess it only strengthens the argument for paying for quality right from the start. As a general contractor, I thought (stupidly) that I could get this machine up and running.
The Thermwood guys are great. They quoted me a new motherboard for this system 2 years ago at around 3k... that with misc other parts should get me up and running for around 5k total if I do the work - and I'll have a system that will function. I guess the real question at this point though is - is it worth it? Or, should I scrap this machine entirely and go with a newer system.
I am primarily a roofer, but grew up building cabinets and working with wood, so this router was a dream of mine to own, but haven't thought of a nice little niche market to make it profitable yet. Most of the routers I have looked at and priced (Multi-cam, NewCNC, etc.) are in the 50K price range and I just can't justify the cost without a way to make the system pay for itself.
Unsure of the best direction...