Re: Pico VS IMService???

Sorry,
Brain Fart I know EMC only supports six axes.
Ken


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "kdntool" <kdntool@c...>
wrote:

> Jon,
> Please let me know if I am understanding correctly. With your USC
> board you can create a "pseudo-servo" system if you install

encoders

> on the steppers? The USC board has onboard rate generators to
> eliminate any possible host computer timing "bugs"?(takes the host
> out of the equation?) You mentioned using a 4th axis "channel" to
> generate PWM for spindle speed control. Could you elaborate on

this.

> Is it possible with EMC,could you use say 5th 6th or 7th and still
> retain the 4th axis for rotary motion? Can I use drives other than
> Gecko or Rutex (say Xylotex) and still utilize the encoder

feedback?

> I Thank You For Your Time!!
> Ken
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson <elson@p...>

wrote:

> >
> >
> > turbulatordude wrote:
> >
> > >>the USC board was delivering 45,000 steps/second per axis.

This,

> > >>
> > >>
> > > of course, is not the limit, it can go to about 300,000
> steps/second.
> > >
> > >
> > >That is impressive
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Well, this is what you can do in dedicated hardware, and Field
> Programmable
> > Gata Arrays make custom hardware very affordable.
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >>It allows you to connect encoders from the motors to the board,
> > >>
> > >>
> > > which then relays the position information back to the CNC
> computer.
> > > One of the greatest advantages of this is that you can

switch

> back
> > > and forth between CNC and manual operation, and use the
> computer as a
> > > DRO when in manual.
> > >
> > >
> > >Another great feature, I assume the computer required encoders

and

> > >does not 'see' the steps as the DRO ?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Well, if you are using Gecko or Rutex servo drives, you already
> need
> > encoders
> > for that.
> >
> > I'm not sure what you mean by "not 'see' the steps as the DRO".
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >>The USC board also has 14 opto-isolated inputs for limit and

home

> > >>
> > >>
> > > switches, so you can have separate indications of - and +
> limits for
> > > each axis.
> > >
> > >The site
> > >
> > >http://pico-systems.com/univstep.html
> > >
> > >that shows the board, lists one parallel port. is that all that
> > >connects the PC to the board ? it seems like you have found a

way

> to
> > >exceed the normal 5 inputs of a simple breakout board.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Yes, it only requires one parallel port. The parallel port does
> not
> > have dedicated
> > pins, as it does for the traditional step/direction output. It
> becomes
> > a communications
> > channel between the computer and a peripheral device, so

registers

> are
> > addressed,
> > read out and written to, to accomplish the functions needed.

With

> EMC, the
> > way we are running it now, 1000 times a second the position is

read

> in,
> > a new
> > velocity computed for each axis, and the new velocity is sent to
> the rate
> > generators. Also, the sense switches are read in, and solid

state

> relay
> > outputs
> > are sent out at the same time.
> >
> > The IEEE-1284 protocol makes it possible to access 256 registers

on

> devices
> > on the (parallel port) bus, and so it can support up to FOUR of
> these boards
> > on one parallel port!
> >
> > Jon