Messages

161

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 05:32:58 PM »

I was looking at motion control products mcp25 BOB's. If I can get a discount out of them (bought a few things before) I should get 2 of them including postage for about £50, and no VAT or duty or long wait, etc.

Anyone used these before?

I think the SS route is out for me, due to cost, and it not being necessary for my steppers.

162

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 05:18:33 PM »

Erm...
"Less money since you have to buy two of them".... do you mean that, because this has 8 outputs, I only have to buy one, and I don't need to but the parallel port PCI card?

RB

163

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 03:03:33 PM »

Good, thanks

Credit card at the ready!

164

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 02:33:46 PM »

These are the worst spikes I saw during the test, apart form one of much higher amplitude right at the start, which happens every time I run the driver test (4 times now, to be sure)

165

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 01:25:53 PM »

Then that's what I'll do! Thanks, I think I've got a shopping list to write.

RB

166

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 12:53:14 PM »

So I ought to use breakout boards if I have SS or PP.

On running Mach's driver test, my PC was rated good to excellent for pulse, so does this mean I don't really need an off-board controller/pulse generator?

My (motion control products msd415) drives have , and I quote: "
TTL compatible and optically isolated input signals". I will mail them to ask, but does that mean I don't need a breakout board? It's starting to sound like all I need to do is tear up an old PP cable and wire my drivers to it. For 6 axes, I'll need another parallel port though, right? Would a PCI parallel port work identically to my on board one? No issues to look out for?

I ought to check that my PC is producing 5V not 3.3V to the parallel port. No idea how to do this, can I do this in xp sp3? A link to a walkthrough would be a help.

I think that's all!

Thanks for advice so far, I really appreciate this,

RB

167

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 12:11:47 PM »

Okay, so if I have a smoothstepper I have to have breakout boards, but if I use the parallel ort I could theoretically just wire my drivers directly to the port on the pc? Is that correct?

From reading on the site, I'm not clear how many axes the PMDX122 supports...

I'm in UK, too! Do you know what the shipping charge is likely to be for the smooth stepper? They're all on holiday at the moment, apparently.

Rich B

168

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 11:46:53 AM »

I have motors (steppers, nema 23) and drivers, but no breakout board. Can't remember why I didn't need one, but I remember being told either the drivers or the pod do this instead. How much are parallel port controllers/ breakout boards, in general?

169

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 30, 2010, 06:14:38 AM »

Thanks BR449,

Do you have any recommendations for hardware for this?

RB

170

General Mach Discussion / Re: best supported controller?

« on: December 29, 2010, 08:30:41 PM »

Okay, thanks again.

I'll probably buy one.

Rich