RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Signal gen Interface

Phil wrote:

<snip>

We're talking here of

> having to write an equivalent program anyway, so why not just
> emulate IndexerLPT, including its command set??? Am I missing
> something?
>

If the "Black Box" is going to emulate ILPT then it will have to
do the
motion calculations itself (linear and circular). The only thing
the PC
would have to do is interpret your G-code program and send high
level motion
commands to the "Black Box". This is not what most people here
are
indicating that they think the "Black Box" should do.

Phil


Phil -
Yes, I understand that the "box" would have to do the
interpolation. If I'm not mistaken, SimpleStep, Pic Servo,
IndexerLPT, and Flashcut's signal generator box also handle that
end of things. That kind of interpolation is done all the time
with fairly humble hardware. If you don't offload that stuff to
the "box", then the interface PC is still dealing with timing
issues, as far as getting out velocity signals, handling
interrupts, etc. I would rather have a reasonable sized buffer in
the "box" to accumulate enough toolpath data to eliminate the
realtime demands on the PC. I believe I've heard several people
here wish there was an equivalent to Flashcut's box.
BTW, I'm impressed that you know what "most" people here are
thinking when we say "black box". It seems to me that figuring
out what people are thinking is what this whole discussion is
about.
Carlos