Tec/Apple/Abaton scanners for CNC use

While cleaning up around the university, I ran across two flat
bed scanners destined for surplus.

One is the old Apple One-Scan, the other is the Abaton/Everex Scan 300.

Never allowing any piece of electronics to just pass me by and
CERTAINLY not allowing anything with a motor in it to just be tossed, I
snagged them.

Upon taking them apart, I discovered that they are exactly the same
mechanics with only slightly different scanning electronics.

The optical assembly ( lens, mirrors and CCD ) move on a simple
carriage; a linear bearing ( bronze bushing on a shaft ) on one side, a
flat slide on the other, the weight of the optics keeping it anchored.

A stepper, which I think is three phase, has a small FINE PITCH
gear on it. This drives a much larger gear which drives a toothed belt
which drives the table. ( Belt is firmly afixed to the slide. )

Overall motion is about .001" per full step, using a quick eyball
measurement.

The motion control and power supply electronics live on a separate PCB
from the SCSI/Optical/microcontroller electronics. ( One thing that DID
catch my eye was a DAC on one of the uP boards, leading me to believe
that these steppers may run in microstep mode. )


Now, since I have TWO of these units, I immediately think X-Y, and given
all the recent discussion of routing PCBs, I'm starting to think
hmmm ...

Here's the question.

All the motion control electronics seem to live inside a single big
18 pin "IC-like" device, similar to some audio amplifiers devices.

See

http://www.nteinc.com/specs/1300to1399/pdf/nte1331.pdf

for a similarly packaged device.

The markings on it are

TEC

EC-A051

Japan

And that's about it.

Now, I would really like to use these electronics, even if only as a
starting point, if I can.

But I can find no reference to these devices anywhere, in any of the
usual spots. ( ECG, NTE, Google, etc. )

And the service manual from Apple does not show schematics, only
assemblies. Abaton manual is non-existent.

Anyone seen these before ? Heard of them or the company ? Because
reverse engineering this is not really an option .. a whole bunch of
lines leading back to a big uP is not all that informative.

Any help appreciated.

Alan


--

Alan Rothenbush | The Spartans do not ask the number of the
Academic Computing Services | enemy, only where they are.
Simon Fraser University |
Burnaby, B.C., Canada | Agix of Sparta