Messages

1481

Galil / Re: Galil HELP DMC-1842

« on: June 26, 2009, 12:30:50 AM »

There really should be no debate.    Mach3 and the 1842 will work well.

1482

Galil / Re: Which servo amplifiers?

« on: June 20, 2009, 03:01:24 AM »

Chris,

The 21x3 "Econo" controllers will do binary commands.  I think only the 18x2 "Econo" PCI controller won't do binary commands.  Either way, it's 350 microseconds (us), not milliseconds (ms).  So the interpretation is still very fast in the whole scheme of things.  The way the Galil Plugin is working now, not being able to do binary commands isn't even an issue.

If you don't need the extra I/O that the Accelera offers, I'd say the 21x3 is the way to go.  You can get an Ethernet ModBus I/O device far cheaper if you need more I/O.  But I have to say that the 40x0 Accelera controllers are sexy!  I have one sitting next to me right now and it is slick.  So the Accelera controller might be worth it if you have to have the slickest of the slick.  But the power and speed of the Accelera controller is simply not needed for our application.

Steve

1483

Galil / Re: Which servo amplifiers?

« on: June 19, 2009, 11:27:39 PM »

Galil has a wonderful tech support staff that will talk to you for free.  Just dial their toll free number on their website and tell them what you want to do.  You need to give them the wattage of the motors and then they may have some suggestions.  I like the Yaskawa drives.  Are your motors DC brush or brush less (AC)?

The Galil controllers will operate an analog drive (+/-10VDC) in either speed or torque control.  And they will also a operate a drive with position control (step and dir).  I would opt for analog as you can run closed loop position control.  The current Yaskawa drives will do speed, torque, and position control, so you can take your pick.  

If you are planning on using Mach with the Galil, I would suggest a Galil controller that has Ethernet.  The DMC40x0, DMC21x3, and the older DMC21x0 and DMC22x0 models.  The 21x3 controllers are "Econo" controllers, but they do the job real well.  The PCI bus based controllers work, but they complicate cabling.  An Ethernet controller can be mounted right in the control cabinet with only one wire going to the Mach host PC.

Steve

1484

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: Disabling "MyNotify()" ID calls, of "Disabled" Plugins.........

« on: June 17, 2009, 01:41:50 AM »

I'll get that in the Galil Plgin ASAP Scott.  Thanks for the information!

Steve

1485

Mach SDK plugin questions and answers. / Re: missing library files in g100IO sample plugin

« on: June 17, 2009, 01:36:11 AM »

It doesn't matter.  You won't be able to compile a working plugin with VS2005 anyway.    You have to use VS2003.  Or there is a beta "framework" (for lack of a better description) that you can make a new plugin with VS2008.

Steve

1486

Galil / Re: Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: June 14, 2009, 12:27:46 AM »

The DMC20x0 USB Optima controllers have been tested now and they work fine.

And a word on the Galil Tools drivers... 

Galil Tools and the drivers provided therein do not work with the Mach Galil Plugin.  However, Galil Tools and Smart Term v7 drivers can coexist on the same machine and run Ethernet based controllers.  Since the means of communicating with the Ethernet controllers is the same, both packages will function.  The Galil Tools package installs a different driver for the bus based PCI controllers, along with a different API.  So if you are running a PCI controller, don't install the Galil Tools along with the Smart Term v7 stuff. 

Steve

1487

Galil / Re: Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: June 04, 2009, 03:27:06 PM »

A RIO or any other ModBus device will give you the I/O that you need to make all of that pneumatic stuff work.  The Galil will only have 8 inputs and 8 outputs in less than 4 axis form.  The ICM-20105 is a opto isolating breakout that uses D-sub connectors that are commonly available.  If your spindles are variable speed, you are likely to need a spare axis on the Galil to control them.  Depending on the spindles uses, of course.  Do they all operate at once?

Steve

1488

Galil / Re: Galil 2133 or DSPMC/IP Motion Controller?

« on: June 04, 2009, 03:10:07 PM »

Yes, the Galil will be perfect.  Galil for the motion, ModBus for any extra I/O.  Get an extra axis on the Galil if you want to control the spindle.  Or maybe you can do spindle control over ModBus.  Scott can probably answer that.

Steve

1489

Galil / Re: Galil DMC-21x3 help

« on: June 04, 2009, 01:09:17 PM »

I have no idea why CV will not work.  It may be a Mach config thing.  There really should not be anything in the Galil Plugin that would subvert that.  You might ask around in the General discussion forum.  Or give Brian a shout.

Steve

1490

Galil / Re: Galil controller compatability (what works with the plugin)

« on: June 02, 2009, 06:02:54 PM »

Yes, that will work.  However, the ICM1900 and ICM2900s have nice little features to them.  One of them is the ability to switch the enable signal by changing a HEX driver chip.  Some amps do low enable and some amps do high enable.  And some ICMs have opto isolation built in and a convenient way to supply logic power (5v or 12v) or an open collector to do 24v logic.  Basically, you will have to know a lot more about wiring things up to use this breakout board.

Steve