261
Mach4 Toolbox / Re: Automatic gearbox with 20 speeds
« on: October 13, 2022, 01:58:17 AM »
Yes it would be possible to change your speeds from the S command within your GCode.
Obviously everyone would look at this task differently but my take on the solution would be as follows…
Firstly do plenty of research to see if a ‘ready made’ controller is available to do the job. It could save you a lot of work.
Because I have them and use them in various applications I would use four Microchip PIC microprocessors (with suitable drivers) to control the gearbox operation. They are cheap and easy to use and have outstanding and long term reliability.
I would use one PIC chip to control and position each of the 3 dc motors and a fourth PIC chip to disseminate the PWM signal (generated from the S command within the GCode) and decide the exact position of each of the 3 motors based on the mark/space ratio of the PWM. There may be some learning to do (using and programming PIC microprocessors) but it is not rocket science and there is plenty of online help and forums detailing PIC chip usage.
Alternatives could be the Arduino (It would be a bit slower in operation than using a number of dedicated microprocessors operating in harmony but it would still be a good solution and plenty fast enough for this application) or one of the many available Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) which are often used with CNC tool changers.
Whatever you choose it can be done and it would certainly be a fun project.
Tweakie.
Obviously everyone would look at this task differently but my take on the solution would be as follows…
Firstly do plenty of research to see if a ‘ready made’ controller is available to do the job. It could save you a lot of work.
Because I have them and use them in various applications I would use four Microchip PIC microprocessors (with suitable drivers) to control the gearbox operation. They are cheap and easy to use and have outstanding and long term reliability.
I would use one PIC chip to control and position each of the 3 dc motors and a fourth PIC chip to disseminate the PWM signal (generated from the S command within the GCode) and decide the exact position of each of the 3 motors based on the mark/space ratio of the PWM. There may be some learning to do (using and programming PIC microprocessors) but it is not rocket science and there is plenty of online help and forums detailing PIC chip usage.
Alternatives could be the Arduino (It would be a bit slower in operation than using a number of dedicated microprocessors operating in harmony but it would still be a good solution and plenty fast enough for this application) or one of the many available Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) which are often used with CNC tool changers.
Whatever you choose it can be done and it would certainly be a fun project.
Tweakie.