Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / hard real time with Windows XP

« on: October 02, 2010, 08:28:25 AM »

Just thought I'd throw this out there.... was browsing the web on real time systems and Mach3, and came across this website:
http://www.intervalzero.com/rtx.htm

Seems to be some sort of addon to Windows XP that allows a programmer direct access to the API and hardware functions in real time. 

Not sure if Mach3 would benefit from this, but using an addon like this would certainly up the price of Mach3.

Comments, anyone?

2

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Which Galil card works with Mach3 ?

« on: April 17, 2008, 02:17:40 AM »

I Know the legacy cards don't work with Mach3

Is there a list of Galil cards that are confirmed working?

thanks
Brian

3

Galil / Galil/Mach3 stepper motor accuracy confusion

« on: August 03, 2007, 07:32:46 PM »

Can someone please help me... I'm confused on this one:

I just received some info from Galil tech support, but there are lingering questions I have:

DMC-18x6 is only outputting step pulses. Once the steps leave the controller we really have no idea what happens to them. What this means is that the only limitation that the controller could have is the maximum frequency that this step train runs at, which for the DMC-18x6 is 6Mhz. Also keep in mind that the 6Mhz is the limitation for our steps, if the amplifier then takes those steps and microsteps then the maximum speed for the motor will be less then 6Mhz depending on the number of microsteps.

1) What is a "step train"?  Is it a microstepping amplifier that goes between the output of the Galil card and the actual stepper motor?  If so, where do I get this microstepping amplifier/device?  Seems like just Galil card/Mach3 combo alone will not do microstepping.

2) If I have a 0.45 degree stepper motor capable of doing 800 steps per revolution, and I employ microstepping with it, then does this mean I will get twice the accuracy of a 0.9 degree stepper motor?

3) How does the Mach3 software take into account and handle microstepping??  If the above is true, then it seems like Mach3 has nothing to do with microstepping and that microstepping is achieved through some kind of hardware device....

Please, if anyone (Brian?) can help, I would appreciate it.