Re: Re: How to setup STG-II?

Babar

Tim gave an excellent response. I just want to add a couple other thoughts.

>    From: "Tim Goldstein" <timg@...>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> > 1)Please Suggest me how to configure EMC for STG II.
>
> This can be very complex. I would suggest you subscribe to the EMC list
> that the NIST hosts. There are more people on that list that use EMC with
> the STG cards. The majority of the users on this list tend to use the
> stepper version through the parallel port.
>
> > 2)Is the BDI EMC intall by default for LPT port? if yes how to set it
> > for  STG-II?
>
> I believe it is set to one of the stepper versions. To switch to the STG
> version you have to go into the .ini file you are running from (there are a
> number of them and editing the wrong one will lead to frustration as
> nothing will seem to be having any effect). In the .ini under the [EMCMOT]
> heading there is a section like the following:
> ; Name of motion control program
> EMCMOT =  steppermod.o
> ; EMCMOT =  freqmod.o
> ; EMCMOT =  stgmod.o
> ; EMCMOT =  stg8mod.o
> ; EMCMOT =  emcmotsim
> ; EMCMOT =   smdromod.o
>
> The one without the comment in front (the semi colon) is the motion control
> module that will be used. In this case it is the less resource intensive,
> but more ragged pulse train stepper module. This is from an old build and
> does not have the proper module for the STG2 card so I am not sure of the
> exact name, but you should be able to recognize it. Just comment out the
> wrong one and uncomment the one you want.
>
> > 3)Most of the posts I have read indicate that people are running EMC
> > on Pentium I systems with less then 32 MB memory, I installed on my
> > system which is 200 MMX with 64 MB RAM but this made my system very
> > slow. Have anyone run EMC on Pentium III or is it not recommended? is
> > there any recommended hardware list' website?
>
> The stepper modules need more processor power than the STG versions. Jon
> Elson says he is running the STG version on a Pentium 100 and it is just
> fine. A stepper version would be an absolute dog on that system. EMC works
> fine on a Pentium II, III, IV, AMD K-6, and K-7 along with most other
> current PC processors.

The version that you are currently running may be a freqmod version and it
will stall out a slow machine. To see how it runs with a servo system, you
could start up the sim.

One other thing that can happen that will slow down your PC is if you start
and stop the emc a lot and some real time stuff gets left around from run to
run. You can fix these easily with a reboot or you can contact me off list
for a procedure that will drag them out of the kernel.

> > 4) what will happen if BDI EMC install confilicts with any system's
> > hardware will it stop installation or will  it install successfully
> > and later on during operation it may cause trouble?
>
> If Linux does not like your hardware you will know right away.

It sounds like you have a BDI running. If so, Linux likes your machine or at
least is not violently opposed to the essential parts of it. The bdi uses
Red Hat's install routines. These are really very good at recognizing the
essential parts of your system and configuring the Linux kernel and modules
to run well with them.

Now to the question of how to set up the STG to run. I heard from Paul while
he was working with Les that there are a few problems yet with the newest STG
driver newstgmod.o. I'm sure that he will find your post when he gets back
to Norwich and will fill you in on what those problems are and how to work
around them.

HTH

Ray