Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: IMService releases ncPOD system

Note to moderator - Discussion of the various problems relating to controlling
machines via windows should not be 'moderated' - I accept that the sniping is
out of place and should be clipped, but given the importance of the underlying
information - should that discussion be killed as well?

Steve Blackmore wrote:

> On Wed, 23 May 2007 18:09:12 -0000, you wrote:
>
>
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mach1mach2cnc/message/73372
>>
>> Quite clearly Art considered it in full release on April 25.
>
> Changed his mind by 8th May
>
> See
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mach1mach2cnc/message/73894
>
> Artsoft website still shows it as pre release also.
>
> I'm running one regularly with Mach and I have been working closely with
> Art since early January to help iron out the bugs.
>
> IMO - The Ncpod has some limitations which should be made clear to any
> prospective users.
>
> Each port is only rated at 20mA.
>
> Only one axis can be jogged at a time (multiple axis moves are fine
> under code). In truth - this hasn't caused me any problem.

And with a windows keyboard you can only select one at time anyway ;)

> PWM output is 75kHz, it's output voltage is only 3.5V and it will not
> work with much of the existing hardware out there without modification
> or additional hardware.
>
> Index pulse input doesn't work with Mach due to latency problems and is
> not supported currently. Whether it ever will be would be guessing.

Probably a separate discussion. Need code within the ncPod to handle this,
because windows is not a real time OS. The parallel port only manages it
because art has moved the essential code to the driver that sits in front of
windows? I seem to remember the same problem with latency affection other
modules as well.

> It will ONLY work reliably with USB 2.0 ports - even having legacy USB
> support turned on in the PC bios will often cause "The pod has ceased to
> respond". This particular problem has caused more support queries than
> any other despite the information being posted numerous times.

Much the same sorts of niggles as the parallel port? Not really the hardware's
fault, but rather the crap underlying design of the platform and OS ;) What
are the limitations of a good USB2 port, and what do we need to get around them?

> There are also still a few other issues with the Mach ncpod plugin, Art
> is aware of these and they will be fixed in due course.

Nice to see this summary, it would be nice to have a little more data on the
ncPod and perhaps it's own list rather than discussions around several. But
since there are several uses for it it comes under several umbrellas and this
group is not limited to a single product or area of computerised machining.

--
Lester Caine - G8HFL
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