Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: whizzo on March 08, 2009, 11:16:28 AM

Title: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: whizzo on March 08, 2009, 11:16:28 AM
Dear All,
             Don't know if this is the correct place to post this, but here goes anyway. As I understand it, Mach 3 has a plug-in or driver, I don't know which, to interface to a Galil motion control board or boards. The questions are these:-   Is the communication protocol between Mach 3 and the Galil board open to be looked at and studied?  I assume that the Galil boards are PCI based? The reason for these questions is that I think Galil products are very expensive and I have seen a PCI motion control board for a fraction of the cost of a Galil, but it will obviously need a new driver or plug-in writing to communicate with Mach 3.  I don't know if I'm clever enough to do this either.  Any comments and advice gratefully received.

Dave.
Title: Re: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: poppabear on March 08, 2009, 03:36:17 PM
Ask "Smurf" he is fooling with the Galil now..........

scott
Title: Re: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: mikey9911 on June 03, 2009, 10:06:34 PM
hello all,
I am going to use the galil plugin and a dmc-2180 controller on a plasma cutter and would like to know if you can use a thc with this plugin.
Title: Re: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: PETSATCOM on October 31, 2009, 05:04:00 PM
Does anyone have an ICD on MACH 3.  What is the output thats drives servo amps. In the case of a Galil board I guess its software to the Galil that is converted to Galil language for Galil to turn into a servo amp drive voltage.

anyway a nice ICD would explain all.  Does one exists.

Jim P  (Petsatcom)
Title: Re: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: NosmoKing on October 31, 2009, 10:08:00 PM
What about the Galil Manual? Its on the Galil site.
This is the controller for command and feedback.
Nosmo.
Title: Re: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: doug6949 on November 01, 2009, 06:37:05 PM
Is the communication protocol between Mach 3 and the Galil board open to be looked at and studied?  I assume that the Galil boards are PCI based? The reason for these questions is that I think Galil products are very expensive and I have seen a PCI motion control board for a fraction of the cost of a Galil, but it will obviously need a new driver or plug-in writing to communicate with Mach 3.

The Galil card, unlike the less expensive motion control cards you mention, has its own trajectory planner. 

From what I recall from previous discussions, Mach sends velocity and position data to the board.  The Galil uses internal functions (possibly LM and VS) to convert this into a trajectory.  These features are missing from lower cost cards which, as a result, would require a completely different approach to writing a driver.  It is definitely not trivial.

Title: Re: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: NosmoKing on November 01, 2009, 09:49:51 PM
..........And also the PID loop is handled within the card, allowing the use of non-intelligent drives to be used.
Nosmo.
Title: Re: Mach 3 and Galil Motion Control boards
Post by: kcrouch on November 02, 2009, 08:39:27 AM
We are working on THC for the Galil, but as with all the other changes, it is going to take a while before it is ready. Lathe threading is also in the works.
Kenny