Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] USB options ...

I was looking into something simple for this a few years ago and it
would be possible to implement using the USB HID protocols (human
interface device). That would mean everything is simply plug and play
using standard drivers for the devices and standard programing libraries
for applications, didn't really do a whole lot more with it as serial
was doing the job fine but there where a few open source arduino
projects that could have been adapted.

The problem was the force feedback parts of the protocol to do the
moving, they (the arduino projects) where only at early stages of
implementation back then and they're fairly complicated, even most OEM's
of force feed products use their own implementations instead of the
methods defined in the USB standards. Synchronization isn't a problem,
the protocol just defines the communication method and its up to the
device to decide what it does with the data after receiving.

FWIW there will be a devcoin funded project for this soon, a simple,
cheap and modular powered sliding axis is being funded at the moment
(principly for 3D printers) and the controls are next on the list.