Re: Gearhead motors ? next-gen software

> > Scott, I'm not sure on all the particulars of the new system being
> developed. It involves a Slab? A Rabbit? New drive design. Steppers

>
> Sure. I have a 100mhz scope. Tame by todays standards.
> I thought the Gecko stepper drivers were heading towards
> producing the pulses in hardware, leaving the software to just
> give a point to head to. I am under the impression that the
> Mach X software will be supporting this in the future. I just
> don't know if this goes for the servo drives as well, or only
> the steppers.
>
> Scott

You're correct, it is software that is not on the PC.

It is not being developed by Art of Mach2 as he is supporting Mach2
and this is a whole new arena. The modbus output is one of those
features Art offered to us. No doubt, more will come. By all
indications, Art will be the one to support this whole project with
the primary PC to board interface. But, alas, his work ends at the
serial or parallel port.

It is not being developed by Mariss and he is developing those
exciting new drivers.

It will be open source unless someone grabs the bull and makes a product.

The great thing is that the first layers are in place.

Mariss has pushed the hardware to close to market. it is (for lack of
a better name) an interputer board.

It handles a lot of the work of the PC so MACH is out of the picture
for the actual step generation. But, the great news about getting the
PC out of the picture is much better shaped pulse trains.

The current pulse train is not as symetrical as one might think and
when the pulse comes a little too early or a little too late, the
motor tries to accel to decel and fights itself.

The cleaner pulse offers better performance.

The whole project does offer more options, but it will not abandon all
the existing stuffs. Heck, there is a huge segment of CNC of people
who use full and half step motors and software other than Mach.

And, I think that this does not alter the whole milling machine thing.
5tpi leadscrews and 2:1 steppers will still work, as will servo's. to
that segment of the market, it does offer the use of smaller steppers.

But, I also think a variable voltage power supply based on stepper
performance would be a way to boost stepper performance as well.
Maybe both variable voltage and variable current ? (I wonder how
hard it would be to turn a Gecko into a switching power supply ?)

Dave