The Pico Systems Universal Stepper Controller is able to provide a better train of step pulses than can be achieved by software step generation. Using software through the parallel port of a PC computer, it is quite difficult to get good step timing above about 20,000 step pulses per second. Our Controller can easily deliver up to 250,000 steps per second with very smooth timing of the pulses. It uses a 10 MHz clock, so that at 250,000 steps /second, the granularity of step rates is only a 5% change. Since the steps are generated separately from the CPU’s clock, the steps produced can be counted by the board so the machine position can be read by the CPU at the LinuxCNC servo rate (nominally 1000 times/second.) This position counter can also be selected to read from an actual encoder on the motor or axis to get more reliable position control, and to detect lost steps or motor stall. The board also has 16 digital inputs that can be used for home and limit switches. One input is dedicated to emergency stop. The others can be assigned as desired in the HAL file, for instance to use with a jog pendant. It also has places to mount 8 solid state relays for coolant, spindle control, etc.