Re: Black box again

Hi Dave, list,

NICE WORK! I notice a DB37 connector, certainly a lot of pins! Any
chance for 4-axis? Looks like two bits of "RB" are used up by the
programming connection. Perhaps these could be re-assigned to be the
4-axis?

So you send the chip sets of move commands and do linear interpolation?
How about circular and helical interpolation?
Acceleration/deceleration?

The concept is good, looks to be fairly low cost, and would off load the
PC for a good share of the work! We need something like this, serial,
parallel, or even USB for our evolving CNC needs.

I noticed the schematics were provided in the URL's you thoughtfully
provided, and I recall you mentioned "open source, PIC based device", do
you expect that the source code will be available? Or even a .HEX
file? Is the part programmed in 'C' or .ASM? No prices posted at
RUTEX, any ideas?

I'm itch'n to play with something! USB at work might provide that
avenue, or this design using PIC's. I have some PIC projects, 'C'
compiler, programmers, etc. A 16F877 would be a good candidate for this
project.

Other "black boxes" are DeskNC, Jon's, Steve's, and Mariss'. So we have
some real interesting possibilities opening up. Some with no
intelligence, some with considerable. We could have 5+ solutions, all
requiring a different API. Which to support? I'm thinking we need some
sort of common API/interface, although that doesn't sound likely at this
point. I'd like to see Windoz98 AND DOS supported (different "driver")!

Alan KM6VV



dkowalcz@... wrote:

>
> 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!
>
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