RE: wonderboard

Your argument has merit. Will this in any way slow down the board or make it
more difficult to set up? Also, isn't what you describe just a digital I/O
board of sorts? They are already available, though it's possible we would
be adding features particular to our needs.

The big problem: The level of design is beyond my abilities at this point.
I hope to get there but need boards sooner. Do we have a volunteer?


Doug

> -----Original Message-----
> From: D.F.S. [SMTP:dfs@...]
> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2000 2:58 PM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] wonderboard
>
> From: "D.F.S." <dfs@...>
>
> >
> > From: "Harrison, Doug" <dharrison@...>
> Marc;
> > If I understand correctly, your vision of wonderboard included the
> ability
> > to use it for a variety of applications outside of the original scope.
> Keeping things simple open and based on a common starting point to allow
> expandability and common software libraries that are open to new features
> and
> uses is not a good goal?
>
> I am not an electronics expert.
> What I know is from playing around for the most part.
>
> > This
> > was to provide a bonehead simple means of interfacing the parallel port
> to
> > step drivers, limit switches and four general outputs.
>
>
> Perhaps my general description, and your admitted lack of understanding of
> digital electronics stand in the way, Maybe you envision something more
> when I say "Buffer" or "Latch" than a simple TTL Device.
>
> This IS "Bonehead Simple".
>
> Maybe the use of one of the extra outputs from the parallel port and a
> specific example will help:
>
> Use these pins from tha parallel port.
> Pin Name.
> 1 strobe (Output)
> 2 data 0 (Input/Output)
> 3 data 1 (Input/Output)
> 4 data 2 (Input/Output)
> 5 data 3 (Input/Output)
> 6 data 4 (Input/Output)
> 7 data 5 (Input/Output)
> 8 data 6 (Input/Output)
> 9 data 7 (Input/Output)
>
> 12 Busy (INPUT)
> 16 Read-Write 1 Read 0 Write (Output)
> 17 Data-Address 1 Addr 0 Data (Output)
>
>
>
> Now, DATA 0 - DATA 7 are the data bus.
>
> DATA-ADDRESS will activate either the "Address Latch Chip" or One of the
> Many "Xcvr Chips" connected to the devices, ie. Stepper or sense switches.
>
> "0" is the devices, "1" is the "Address Latch Chip".
>
> READ-WRITE is used only for the device access. "1" makes The "Xcvr Chips"
> send the
> outside data to the "DATA BUS". "0" Makes them latch the data on the
> "DATA BUS"
> into the outputs, stuff like the drivers for the Steppers.
>
> The address works like this...
> You set the "DATA-ADDRESS" bit to "1"
> Write the address, say 3.
> This will latch 3 into the "Address Latch Chip".
> That Chip is connected to a "3 to 8 decoder".
> Line 3 of that chip will come high and activate "Xcvr Chip #3"
>
> Now Reading from or writing to the printer port will either
> read from or write to the devices or switches connected to that
> chip.
>
> Not rocket science.
>
> At a minimum you would need 3 chips.
>
> Without adding an additional decoder you could run 8 "Xcvrs Chips"
> or 64 bits of I/O.
> All the "Xcvrs Chips" would be wired in parallel except for one
> pin which would be connected to one of the 8 pins on the "3 to 8 decoder".
> This make it dirt simple to design and build as well.
>
> A Full 64 Bit Interface would take all of 10 TTL ICs, (The 16 pin
> 5 for a buck type).
> Adding Opto-Isolators, Relays or LEDs would also be required for
> many uses, but that depends entirely on the intended use.
>
> I could have drawn it faster than it took to explain it, but not in ASCII.
>
> Marc
>
>