Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: PC based CNC system architecture

Wally K wrote:

> Mike, i think the problems with Jons soultion for EMC and stepper
> control is as follows.
>
> Jon please correct me if i am wrong.
>
> 1) It is a closed proprietary system.

Not necessarily closed. I'm not sure I'm willing to give out the
FPGA design, but I'd certainly give out the complete details
of the hardware/software interface, in other words what the
registers look like from the CPU end, sample programs, and
hopefully the working code will become one of the options
of EMC.

> 2) Jon is building what he wants with no input from the group.

Well, I had another customer, and the encoder counter and DAC
(for servo version) are completed already.

> 3) it will be fairly expensive. From memory $350.00 or so.

The particular customer wanted nice Phoenix Contact plug-in
terminal blocks, and some other stuff that ran up the cost, also
needed differential input option, etc...

A different design should be able to be done using the same basic
chip such that the entire counter and rate generator would fit on
one board. I think the only other part would be the crystal
oscillator. We also did a fancy 8-slot motherboard for these
cards, but again, there are much cheaper ways to go, like
eliminating the gold card edge fingers.

These prices were based on buying 15 PC boards, first time
(so it incurs the setup charge) and parts for about 5 of each
board. Even small increases in volume make a big difference,
especially in the PC board cost.

Jon