Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: PWM vs Constant current and G-rex

turbulatordude <dave_mucha@...> wrote:

the Gecko REX is not a driver, it is an interface board.

Check the specs on your breakout board, it will be 3 or 4 motor
outputs, the REX can do 6.

Also the unit accepts quadrature inputs so it connects the encoders to
the board.

In addition, a parallel port can only to 8 outs for 4 motors (one step
and one dir each) and another 4 outputs and then 5 inputs.

the REX can do 6 motors and 16 additional outputs and 22 addition inputs.

In addition it has 4 analogue ins and 4 analogue outs

and connects via USB or eithernet.

So, what that would make that card out to be is the interface for a
very high end platform. Everything is already in there so there are
no additional cards to be for another motor or more I/O's.

At $208 it is only about $50 more than a high end parallel port card.



//// The drives are also more expensive. It only works with Mach4 which isn't operational yet and a ways away from even beta release. Art has indicated that the G-rex and Mach4 are being developed for the industrial retrofitter market and OEM's. Not sure about it's price, it's been indicated that it (Mach4) will be more expensive. Some have mentioned that its great that it is not reliant on the PC system timing, rationalizing it will run on slow PC's, Mach4 will only run on WinXP and maybe 2000. Xp needs at least 1 Gig P3. One of my Bridgeports with Mach3 runs that very PC. There is absolutely nothing wrong with parallel port systems. I'm running three of them: 2 Bridgeports and a JVM 836. The 2 Bridgeports have 120 ipm rapids and the JVM has 140 ipm rapids reliably. All three are close loop position monitored. I asked someone that was ranting about how great it was going to be: "What would this new system do for me?"and never got a reply.

I would expect to see those parallel port cards on e-bay soon as the
guys who spend the $$ want the best.



/////Not mine.... Who knows? I may want to run another drive type with higher voltage abilities. This new system looks proprietary. Don't get me wrong though, I'm sure it's a very good system. But, everyone is acting like all of our CNC problems are over now and there isn't even a working system. I'm sure it will have it's growing pains also.



All I see that is missing is a 7th encoder input. one for the pendant
jog unit. but, I would bet that can be handled quite simply.



//// What I see missing is the flexibility to use different components. Not every machine is setup exactly the same.



This bit about the parallel port disappearing I question. I've bought two new PC's this year and they have PCI parallel port cards in them. There are way too many plotters etc. around for the parallel port to just suddenly disappear. That was said about the 5" floppy drive, it can still be added as an option by PC builders.



Ron



////




Dave









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