Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: paulThomas on August 19, 2009, 05:28:46 AM

Title: pokey55
Post by: paulThomas on August 19, 2009, 05:28:46 AM
Hi guys,

I am new to this forum so please excuse any variation form convection  that this forum may use!

Can anyone tell me can I use the Pokey55 to drive the xyz axis from my laptop as I cannot use the lpt port, basically is this unit a motion controller?

I'm an electronics engineer so any additions that may be needed will be no problem to me, unlike linking the stepper motor to the xyz axis's!

paul
Title: Re: pokey55
Post by: Hood on August 19, 2009, 05:44:12 AM
No, Pokeys is only for I/O that is not time critical. It is great for things like external buttons and FRO pots.
 You need to look at the SmoothStepper for motion control from USB.

Hood
Title: Re: pokey55
Post by: paulThomas on August 19, 2009, 05:49:22 AM


Thanks Hood, thats saved me £50.......

Paul
Title: Re: pokey55
Post by: Jeff_Birt on August 19, 2009, 11:12:45 AM
Just like Hood said, the SmoothStepper is made to provide to emulate two parallel ports, driving up to six axis. There is also some additional I/O for encoders and the like. The PoKeys 55 provides a lot of I/O and functionality for doing things like running LCD displays, keyboard emulation and driving I/O that is not time critical like operator console button, relays, etc.