Are you going to be using the PP? What drives will you be using?
Hood
The plan is to use the Parallel Ports (PP) for the real-time I/O (Step/Dir on XYZA, Home and Limit Switches, MPG Inputs, … ). The signal to noise ratio is not the best with these but I will be able to over come this as before. I did look into the PLC stuff, but at the last minute I decided to stay in my comfort zone and go with PPs. Also, I have a lot of code and state machine logic that can be reused in VB, thinking this might save me some time if I stay with PP.
I did add a Modbus serial I/O card for the none real-time I/O (ATC, Lube Pump Control and Monitor, Spindle RUN, FWD, REV, … ), its has 12 Inputs, 12 Outputs and some ADC inputs and DAC outputs as well.
For the drives, I am currently evaluating some AC Brushless Servo Drives from Mach Motion. I still need to get some more of basic electronic core in place to dynamically tune them on the system unload a load.
Thanks
JH