Re: USB ports ?

John,

The way I'm using the USB port is to transfer data between the
controller's microprocessor and the PC. My usage of the port is not
real-time; enough data (maxes out at 400 kBytes) is transfered in
bursts the controller then dispenses as needed. Everything works very
well that way.

Art of mach2 fame has it working near real-time. The G200X requires 2
kilobytes per second per axis when run the way Art uses it. Evidently
it works just fine that way as well.

You can go to http://www.ftdichip.com/ and look at the FT245BM USB
controller IC. It's the same one I'm using and that means it can't be
that hard.

You can call or order over the net. Just go to www.geckodrive.com

Mariss




--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "John" <john.heritage@v...>
wrote:

>
> I'm looking forward to seeing how you get along with these Mariss,
> it's all an interesting read!
>
> I wanted to ask if you, or anyone else, could recommend anywhere I
> might start reading about controlling electronics from a USB port.
> This is for my own, super simple, electronics projects at home.
> Rather than tweaking control pots, I'd like to be able to remove

all

> the control pots, replace them with logic level SS resistors and
> then use my USB or Parallel port to alter the states of the
> resistors. Since the resistors only have something like 255

variable

> positions, I'd only need about 200 - 400hz per channel to sweep the
> entire range of the resistors. 8 channels would be good, 16 would

be

> even better.
>
> I'd like to be able to just click, up, down, whatever in a simple
> Windows application and have the port send the pulses out to the
> resistors.
>
> The thing is, I'm very new to coding and control through ports, so,
> like I say, if anyone could recommend a suitable place for me to
> read about control through USB ports, I'd be very grateful.
>
> Also, Mariss, where should I need to contact you to order some
> drives?
>
> Best wishes,
> John
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Mariss Freimanis"
> <mariss92705@y...> wrote:
> >
> > I'm happy I'm finally back on it again. It's been 1 year and 12
> days.
> > The time elapsed was spent designing the G204V Vampire drive;

that

> > design was finally "put to bed" Wednesday.
> >
> > We had a little party here Wednesday nite when the gerber files
> were
> > e-mailed to the board fabricators. In 2 weeks we get the first
> 1,000
> > board-sets and then the real fun begins.
> >
> > In the meantime I've been killing time writing the G204V user's
> > manual and generating 3D renderings of the solids model.
> >
> > Also I've been catching up with where I left off on the G2002,
> > cleaning up the schematic diagrams to get them spiffed-up enough
> to
> > code into an FPGA. That is done and the coding has begun.
> >
> > The G2002 should progress very rapidly. I did a time chart for

the

> > project; I'm shooting for a 4-month time frame to first article.
> >
> > An exciting prospect is the "unstallable stepper" idea the G2002
> > should make possible. A true closed-loop, real time encoder
> feedback
> > stepper system.
> >
> > This coming year will be exciting.
> >
> > Mariss
> >
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Peter Homann

<groups@h...>

> > wrote:
> > > Mariss,
> > >
> > > I should have realised you had it covered. :-)
> > >
> > > Peter.
> > >
> > > Mariss Freimanis wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Peter,
> > > >
> > > > Not a problem, 100mA is current to spare. The 100mA outputs
> are
> > open-
> > > > drain and diode clamped to the 24VDC power supply of your
> choice.
> > You
> > > > supply the 24VDC to run your relays or whatever, that is not
> > taken
> > > > from the USB 5VDC.
> > > >
> > > > Mariss
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Peter Homann
> > <groups@h...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >>Hi Mariss,
> > > >>
> > > >>You will need to add an alternative power source, such as a
> wall
> > > >
> > > > adapter
> > > >
> > > >>or other power supply. The USB specification imposes limits

on

> > > >
> > > > current
> > > >
> > > >>draw. The host first recognizes any peripheral as a low-power
> > > >
> > > > device,
> > > >
> > > >>which is limited to less than 100 mA of current. The
> peripheral
> > can
> > > >
> > > > ask
> > > >
> > > >>the host to recognize it as a high-power device through a
> process
> > > >
> > > > called
> > > >
> > > >>enumeration. Once enumeration is complete and permission is
> > > >
> > > > granted, the
> > > >
> > > >>peripheral current limitation increases to 500 mA.
> > > >>
> > > >>Even 500mA is not enough for 16 outputs at 100mA each, let
> alone
> > > >
> > > > the
> > > >
> > > >>other power requirements of the G2002.
> > > >>
> > > >>Cheers,
> > > >>
> > > >>Peter.
> > > >>
> > > >>Mariss Freimanis wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>>Hi,
> > > >>>
> > > >>>The G204V "Vampire" drive design is finished. The first 100
> beta
> > > >>>units will be available at the beginning of January.
> > > >>>
> > > >>>That means I'm back on the G2002 (G2005?) project. The FPGA
> for
> > > >
> > > > the
> > > >
> > > >>>design is being coded right now. In summary, the G2002 will
> have:
> > > >>>
> > > >>>1) 6 axis of step / direction (up to 4 MHz step rate)
> > > >>>2) 6 axies of encoder feedback (CH-A, CH-B, Index and Fault)
> > > >>>3) 8 analog output channels (+/-10V, 0-5V)
> > > >>>4) 8 analog input channels (0-5V)
> > > >>>5) 16 general purpose outputs (5-24VDC, 100mA)
> > > >>>6) 16 general purpose inputs (+/- 100V protected)
> > > >>>7) USB interface, USB powered
> > > >>>
> > > >>>Mariss
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson
> <elson@p...>
> > > >
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >>>>R Rogers wrote:
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>>Wasn't Art Fenerty working on a system like this for

Mach2?

> He
> > > >>>
> > > >>>referred to it as a "cube" or something like that? Basically
> a
> > > >
> > > > remote
> > > >
> > > >>>pulse generator. However, I understood it was to work from
> the
> > > >>>parallel port. Maybe he already released it and I'm unaware
> of
> > > >
> > > > it.
> > > >
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>Yes, hardware by Mariss Freimanis of Gecko Drives, called
> the
> > > >>>
> > > >>>G2002, I
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>>think. There is a group
> > > >>>>of people working on it. It runs through the USB, I

believe.

> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>Jon
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>Addresses:
> > > >>>FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> > > >>>FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> > > >>>Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > > >>>
> > > >>>Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > >>>Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > >>>List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com,
> > > >
> > > > wanliker@a..., timg@k...
> > > >
> > > >>>Moderator: pentam@c... indigo_red@q... davemucha@j...
> > > >
> > > > [Moderators]
> > > >
> > > >>>URL to this group:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> > > >>>
> > > >>>OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> > > >>>If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
> > > >
> > > > aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com
> to
> > reach
> > > > it if you have trouble.
> > > >
> > > >>>http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
> > > >>>
> > > >>>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider
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> > > >
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> > > >
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> > > >>>List Mom
> > > >>>List Owner
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> > > >>>
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> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > > >>--
> > > >>--------------------------------------------------------------

-

> ---
> > > >>Web: www.homanndesigns.com
> > > >>email: homann@h...
> > > >>Phone: +61 421 601 665
> > > >>www.homanndesigns.com/DigiSpeedDeal.html - DC Spindle control
> > > >>www.homanndesigns.com/TurboTaig.html - Taig Mill Upgrade
> board
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Addresses:
> > > > FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> > > > FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> > > > Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > > >
> > > > Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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> > > > List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com,
> > wanliker@a..., timg@k...
> > > > Moderator: pentam@c... indigo_red@q... davemucha@j...
> > [Moderators]
> > > > URL to this group:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> > > >
> > > > OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> > > > If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
> > aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to
> reach
> > it if you have trouble.
> > > > http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
> > > >
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider
> this
> > to be a sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same

members

> > are there, for OT subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
> > > >
> > > > NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY
> > POSTING THEM. DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO
> > EXCEPTIONS........
> > > > bill
> > > > List Mom
> > > > List Owner
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------

-

> -
> > > Web: www.homanndesigns.com
> > > email: homann@h...
> > > Phone: +61 421 601 665
> > > www.homanndesigns.com/DigiSpeedDeal.html - DC Spindle control
> > > www.homanndesigns.com/TurboTaig.html - Taig Mill Upgrade
> board