Re: Pico Systems USC and GSI products

I'm using the USC and I'm happy with it but I've only
been doing testing in plastic, not any metal. I'm
using it with a Xylotex drive which I also like and
PacSci motors with encoders (I did use the USC for a while
with the onboard feedback before I got the encoders
hooked up). I hadn't planned on using the USC but when
I came across it, it pretty much had all that I wanted.

It only works with EMC as far as I'm aware and I had
no problem setting up EMC. Just downloaded the BDI
and basically said "go" and it was done. I did have
a problem with the parallel port on my computer and
bought a PCI one but my PC was ready for the scrap
heap.

Tuning EMC is the only part that has eluded me so
far but then again, the time to do the testing has
eluded me as well. I did do some work on it this
weekend and was able to run 30IPM without the
following errors I was having before but it is
capable of much, much more. Jon has done some
demos showing speeds at least three times that
I think. I just need to find the time to work
on it some more.

I suspect that you will find more people using the
USC with the Gecko or Rutex drives and on larger
equipment than my Taig mill.

-John

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Lance Hopper"
<snaggletto@c...> wrote:

> Hello,
> I've recently stumbled upon the Pico Systems site, which I

believe

> is run by Mr. Jon Elson that I see around these cnc boards so

often.

>
> I'm interested in the Univ. stepper controller and the Gecko

servo

> interface. Are these experimental prototypes or reliable, mature
> products? The USC in particular has some interesting features like

a

> 300,000 pps pulse generator, E-stop circuit, and what looks to be a
> way to close the encoder feedback loop in software. Not to mention

a

> true DRO, parallel port breakout board and IO board all in one.

Why

> don't more people use these boards?
>
> Do they only work with Linux EMC, or will they work with Mach2

on

> Win XP?
>
> I would like to hear more about these products (in lamens terms)
> and how the specific features work with Gecko G320's and/or Rutex
> servo drives.
>
> It also looks like there are boards that work with step/dir
> software but outputs an analog signal to control AC and DC brushles
> servo drives. Here I thought hobby cnc was limited to

step/direction

> drives and brushed DC servos or steppers.
>
> Is there a way to control a VFD and AC spindle motor with any of
> these baords?
>
> Thanks.