Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Indexer LPT

With all the talk of more "open" controls, Now I'm confused why Indexer is not more widely know about and used.

Indexer LPT is one part of Abilitys offerings. Indexer itself is a TSR program. It loads on startup. A typical use of Indexer is along the lines of simple motion control. You can take a text file, type in all of the necessary
information you need for your axis control like Maximum speed, Minimum Speed, Acceleration rates, and Contouring Shift. These perameters are "Per Axis", so all axis, up to 6 can be controlled independently of each other in
those issues. Once you have typed those items, the control will now let you execute motion commands. So, you type simple commands like move:a,2000. This moves the machines assigned "A" axis at rapid in a 2000 steps. A
command like feed:a,-2000 will send it backwards at the feedrate.

Once the file is done, you can go to a DOS command and type Copy (text document name) MOTOR. Then it takes off !

It has numerous possibilities all by itself. I have the older version 3 where it has a limited buffersize to load continous motion into a queue. The machine would typically run until motion commands in the queue were run, then
lift the tool, re-load the next set of commands, drop the tool, and run the next set. I forget what the size limit of that buffer used to be, but it has for all pratical purposes been done away with. Now you can run huge files
in continuous contouring mode without stopping. There are certain design softwares that even export the proprietary code that will allow the buffer to reload only when on a corner node.

For all those who want to "digitize", It has the ability to "poll" information about a location where a dry contact has been tripped (like a probe) and then "LOG" the information to a text file before moving to the next point.
You do have to run a sequence of points though, it is not a manual digitizer.

Motion? Well, It has been THE best I ever saw in regards a PC control under $1000. I had a file created by someone in the native language that put a 3 axis machine into more twisty turn spirals than I think any software could
create. It was smooth as silk.

Do you recall someone mentioning the "sound" of their motors ? Indexer has that similar "ring" to it. i used to have it on an old 486... Ran like a rocket ship even then. Must be even better now !

Sure, you have the 3 parallel ports. For people who are asking for "Open".... ports are cheap and disposable ! It really does not matter how many wires it takes if the control works the way one would expect it.

Thats the INDEXER Side. Then he has the windows interface(s). I only had the hpgl and because of 2d limitations I moved out of indexer at the time. Now there is an enhanced hpgl interface and the new G-Code interface. I can't
wait to here how it works out for fellows like Carlos.

Indexer was installed on many of the old Digital Tool Routers. It had a horrible interface that was not supplied by Ability Systems and it worked like garbage too. Digital "Licensed" the TSR from Ability, but I get the feeling
they never stayed current on just how many copies were sold. So there is a case of "We want Open software and we will be sure to be honest". ya Right, I think people who work to sell stuff should get paid.

Ask Art V how he feels about "open" software. I think he was owed a lot of money at the time of Digitals demise. So, as any thinking person would do, Art has attempted to protect his investment and now has had to apply
"security" protection of some sort.

So, Indexer. Probably very close to what everyone wants. It is DOS. It can be run on old Junk. It has no unknown propriety code or language (in fact I can not believe the programming information that came with my old version -
examples in C, Pascal, yaddayadda) Connects to a simple port. Runs like a Rocket Ship. Has a really great, no rather excellent contouring capability. Can have interfaces written for it in DOS or Windows, 16 bit, 32 bit......
Can run it right with Wordpad and a DOS prompt.

What more do you guys want ???

Oh Ya.... You want it for nothin' !

Chris L

Art Fenerty wrote:

> Hi All:
>
> I was just reading the Indexer LPT site. Does anyone here have experience with it. Is it a software only solution which runs at 90,000 pulses per second? How do you find it runs? How is it's constant velocity contouring?
> Is it a driver that loads prior to windows? Sounds like a great solution, I'd like to hear about its performance if anyone has driven it.
>
> Art
> Master5 Software
> http://users.andara.com/~fenerty/master.htm
>
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