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Author Topic: Need Advice on Ethernet Smooth Stepper  (Read 9976 times)

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Need Advice on Ethernet Smooth Stepper
« on: January 17, 2014, 10:35:46 PM »
Hello Everyone,
I have a question about using ESS with my almost diy router table.
I purchased all my electronics with www.CandCNC.com  about 21/2 years ago.  The package I went with is a listed under Plug-N-Run CNC Electronics, Router-Med to Heavy Router Packs, RouterPak-1B complete with motors and cables. This kit uses 5 Gecko 201X Drives and a UBOB III. My router is very stable no issues with messing steps or anything. I have been using Mach3 2010 screen set and Vectric Aspire software since the machine has been in operation.
I have been hearing a lot of good things about Ethernet Smooth Stepper and wanted to give it a try, Ya’ll know what I’m talking about always looking to make it a little better. Well I put the wagon in front of the horse, because I order my ESS then decided to call CandCNC and asked about using the ESS, and their answer was NO!
It will not work with my system; they said they were in the process of developing their own type of smooth stepper. So my question is, before I put my ESS up for sale, I was wondering if anyone here is using electronics from CandCNC and if so have you tried using an ESS.
Also if there is someone here with advice about why it will not work on my system please let me know. I’m not sure if their tech was blow smoke and want me to wait and purchase the version of a smooth stepper.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and sorry I was so long winded in explaining myself.   

Offline Jeff_Birt

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Re: Need Advice on Ethernet Smooth Stepper
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2014, 10:45:49 PM »
I suspect the reason they say it will not work is because they use 20 year old IO multiplexing technology to try and get more IO from a single parallel port. If your not using their multiplexed IO then it will work just fine as the board has no clue if it is getting signals from a parallel port or a SmoothStepper.
Happy machining , Jeff Birt
 
Re: Need Advice on Ethernet Smooth Stepper
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2014, 10:09:14 AM »
Thanks for the quick reply Jeff
I purchased my ESS from your company, great service & fast delivery time, oh and very good price ;)
I don't know much about the electronic thats why I purchased a complete package from CandCNC. I was looking at PMDX.com they have a PMDX-126 pictured with PMDX-107, SmoothStepper, and cables. I was wondering if i could use this or something similar to replace my existing BOB. 

I was looking through CandCNC's BOB manual and copied the following.
Is this what you were talking about "Multiplexing Technology" ?

"The UBOBII in conjunction with MACH software uses “Virtual Ports” to communicate with the
signals from the UBOBII. Port 1 inputs (pins 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15) are in parallel with port 8
(virtual port) pins of the same pin numbers. Thus the signal for port 1 pin 11 is shared with the
signal from port 8 pin 11. The outputs are muxed (a process that lets 3 outputs in MACH
control 8 individual outputs) and show up as PORT 4 (virtual port). Two of the outputs are used
to connect to Expansion Modules (DTHC or ISS-02). The other 6 are double buffered
and designed to drive external relays or similar loads and are
accessible via the Table I/O card."
« Last Edit: January 18, 2014, 10:14:27 AM by Teepaco »

Offline Jeff_Birt

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Re: Need Advice on Ethernet Smooth Stepper
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2014, 10:13:49 AM »
Quote
I was looking through CandCNC's BOB manual and copied the following.
Is this what you were talking about "Multiplexing Technology" ?

Yes, twenty or so years ago when the parallel port was about it for low cost PC based control multiplexing the parallel port pins was popular. Heck, I built my own multiplexor to run my robots and such at that time. Fast forward to today and microcontrollers that can easily interface with PCs are cheap and plentiful. The ESS gives you three full parallel ports worth of I/O so there is no need for the cumbersome and proprietary multiplexing schemes.
Happy machining , Jeff Birt