Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: new paradigm 6+3=9 bits: three S&D drives, 8 axes... , 3 bits spare

cncdxf@... wrote:

>
> Hi Doug,
> It is obvious you would need new software.

It is obvious that very slight changes to existing
software are required.

The disadvantages are:
- Very slight modifications of existing software.
- Considerations of these changes when writing Gcode
- cost of one 'device' (and of course the wait for it
to become a reality).

The advantages are:
- you only need to buy 2 or 3 drivers
- you have access to 8 axes (or 16 using 4 bits, or
32 axes using 5 bits, or 64 axes using 6 bits)
- for heavily used axes, you can multiplex them between
the drivers to decrease the stress on any individual driver.

> Then why not just add a second LPT port

You lose the advantages of the new method. If merely adding
a second LPT port satisfied my constraints, I wouldn't have
proposed a new, different design!

If your drivers cost only a few dollars each, no big deal.
However, we are currently discussing the case where the naive
increase in the number of drivers is undesirable (due to the
existing constraints).

BTW, I am in the market for such a device, if any of the
electronics experts wants to brainstorm with me offline.

Doug Fortune
http://www.cncKITS.com