Re: Black box again

Hi Alan,

Here's the chip I'm helping with:

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~dkowalcz/rt900_1.pdf

And here it is again on a proto-board with connectors, etc.., as it
might look to the consumer:

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~dkowalcz/900000_1.pdf

It's a "dumb box" type device, based on a PIC16C74, 3 axes and 16
bits digital I/O. Tentatively named StepEx.

My role on this project is to adjust TurboCNC to be able to drive
this device as a user option, so right now I'm a little short on the
fine details. Have a look at http://rutex.com to see what the
hardware guy is up to.

Haven't got source yet, I should be getting a couple chips in the
mail any day now to play with on my workbench.

I'm also working on a "smart box" personally, since a chip that
accepts just a motion command like "MOVE(params)" via COM/USB port
and lets the computer know when it gets there seems a bit more
flexible on the software side. But that hasn't gotten much farther
than just some rudimentary specs and picking up a handful of PICs and
a "burner".

BTW, thanks Ballendo for explaining "fire and forget" in this
context...!

Dave Kowalczyk
Seattle WA

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Alan Marconett KM6VV <KM6VV@a...> wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> "fire and forget"? USB's are getting easier to play with on the
device
> end, anyhow. The PC side? Well, I'm not anxious to write a special
> windoz driver! If a std. driver can be used (must need something
like a
> printer dump, right?), then that will simplify the task. Then you'd
> have to write the application in windoz too! I think ActiveWire
(was
> mentioned the other day) has some type of driver for DOS.
>
> http://www.activewireinc.com/
>
> I don't think I'd put all the smarts of a controller down in the USB
> (8051), probably just generate the pulses.
>
> Open source for PIC code to run 3 axis? Can I see? ;>)
>
> Timed updates. Yup, there is a USB xfer mode (isochronous) that I
think
> does that within the 1ms frames.
>
> Talk about re-inventing the wheel. Saw a model of "Ezekiel's
Wheel" the
> other night on one of the "robot wars" type of show (I only watch
for
> the technology). Also saw a tube with wheels in it at right angles
used
> for steering. Clever, but I didn't get a good enough look to
figure out
> how it worked. The tube was rotated to steer somehow.
>
> Alan KM6VV
>
>
> dkowalcz@i... wrote:
> >
> > To list,
> >
> > Well, I'm currently co-developing a dumb box with another semi-
> > commercial hobbyist. It's an open source, PIC based device that
> > handles 3 axes via serial port. Drawback is that it requires
more or
> > less timed updates still, just fewer and farther between. Still
in
> > development - I'll let the list know when it's done, if it flies
that
> > is.
> >
> > I think a good "fire and forget" USB smart controller on one
chip
> > is long overdue in this hobby. Commercial ones are around, sure,
but
> > they start at about a G-note and typically aren't scalable. So I
got
> > some PIC's to engineer one the other month.... That's still
cooking
> > too, but *way* on the back burner.
> >
> > Dave Kowalczyk
> > Seattle WA
> > not a huge fan of wheel re-invention either!