Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Interface. Gauging interest.

Mariss Freimanis wrote:

> Why the persistent mindset that step pulses be sent over the serial
> interface be it USB or ethernet? That's like trying to use a hammer
> as a screwdriver.
>
> The other end of the cable has to have a box.

I agree with this, to some extent. While it's possible to do it without
the box to clean up the step pulses the resulting performance is less
than what is possible with a little more effort and not much more cost.

However, I don't have any issue with the PC doing the work of generating
step pulse timing information, packaging that and shipping it off to a
piece of hardware that can do the work of turning the pre-calculated
timing information into precisely timed pulses. This keeps all of the
details of figuring out stepping and timing in the big, fast hardware,
uses the high-bandwidth data channels that are available (usb, ethernet)
and relies on the microcontroller only as a precision timer of pulses.

This approach keeps the hardware to an absolute minimum and allows
maximum flexibility and control for the software on the PC.

Dave K