Re: INDEXER ?

J

>
> "Arne Chr.Jorgensen" wrote:
>
> > From: "Arne Chr.Jorgensen" <instel@...>
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > A lot of interesting stuff here, - but then I start to wonder a
> > bit. I may have some wrong idea of what an indexer is all about ?
> >
> > 1. Would anyone care to enlighten me ? ( more down to bits and
> > pieces )
>

I think I was one to mention them recently. Others did too.

To elaborate on what Jon said,

The big stack of gizmos next to me consist of black boxes that connect
to
a stepper motor, RS232 port, and ac mains power.

Up to 99 units may be daisy chained together.

A host computer communicates in ascii (as a terminal) to particular
indexers by specifying an indexer id (like an address) and then
motion commands for acceleration, velocity, position and other
commands in g code or other formats. The indexer then executes
the move and tells the host what it did. (My) Indexers do not
communicate with each other directly- omly through the host.
These are only 9600 baud and thus are too slow for rapid
coordinated motion. More modern ones are faster.

If I use these I will bypass the on board controller and
just use them for amplifiers. They will fire a single step
or microstep by setting two parallel data bits, step and rotation
direction.

--
Leslie M. Watts
ITW Advanced Technology Group
(847)657-4559
http://www.netcom.com/~leswatts/leswp.html