Re: Black Box Goals

I think the goals listed are very good- just about what I want.

You say 'G code' commands- do you mean in Inches or in steps? IMHO the
box should just know steps- Let us do the math for inches, MM or
furlongs in the GUI code. I assume you do NOT plan to do tool offset in
the box either. It seems to me all you need is G00, G01, G02 and G03,
everything else can be controlled in the software.

You do indicate an Inquire command so We can update a screen. Obviously
there will be some time lag here, but since it just updating something
like a moving graphic that should be fine. I assume the position report
is in the same units at the commands? Steps would be fine.

Have you thought about the serial line protocol- this was what killed me
with the SimpleStep. It insisted on a return string after every command,
but it returned an OK after accepting the command, not after completing
the move.

Id like to see both a single move command, and some way to fill a buffer
and then launch the entire move- Both Indexer.LPT and PicServo do this.

Great spec, when can I get a board :-)

ron ginger
( my real name)