Re: [Emc-users] So, how's Ethernet?

[Peter C. W. <pc...@me...>]

On Fri, 13 Jul 2018, Sven Wesley wrote:

> Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:26:19 +0200
> From: Sven Wesley <sve...@gm...>
> Reply-To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)"
>     <emc...@li...>
> To: "Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC)" <emc...@li...>
> Subject: Re: [Emc-users] So, how's Ethernet?
> 
> Ok, friends. This is getting interesting (AKA I'm sort of lost).
>
> Once upon a time there was a beautiful tutorial about choosing the right
> setup with Mesa boards involved, but Internet is a living thing and that
> page is gone. My entire Mesa knowledge was based on that page...
>
> So, my retrofit is not progressing because I'm lost in the
> what-to-choose-problem.
>
> The machine has DC servos with optical disc encoders, I have no data on the
> motors nor the encoders but the controller has a sign saying 5A fuse +/- 60
> V. I hate when the encoders are crimped to the motor shaft and even though
> they are sweet I am more than willing to rip them off and replace them with
> capacitive encoders tomorrow.
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/svenneduva/albums/72157698570971564
>
> I need a few pins extra. The spindle is a HF air bearing (50 k RPM) with a
> pneumatic tool changing mechanism. There goes a few extra pins. The tool
> changer itself is fixed but has a motor driven cover with limit switches.
> So two limit inputs, motor +/- direction and then signals for releasing the
> tool.
> The machine itself only has homing switches so three extra inputs, or one
> if serial wired. I would like to add end switches though.
>
> The easy way out would getting a Mesa 7i92 + 7i76 combo (no LPT) and some
> step/dir servo drives. But I thought the nice thing with for example a 7i77
> board is that it handles all the loop back and I only need some simple
> amplifier drivers to run the servos and then feed the encoder signals to
> the 7i77. But, all the drivers I find they want the encoder input? And I
> though they were supposed to go to the 7i77? Even worse, I bought a 7i77
> card to host a set of super fancy Omron drivers once upon a time and know I
> don't even understand how I was thinking when I bought them. Correct, they
> were never installed and are still collecting dust.
>
> So, IF I am going with the Mesa boards, what on Earth is the driver I
> should use, and what boards? Simply, I am lost on this one... I don't know
> if I'm getting old and lack the googling skills, I can't find a decent
> combo anymore. Step/dir is a breeze to setup compared to this jungle. I do
> understand Mesa is supporting us and everything, I just don't understand
> how little documentation there is to find _how_ to choose boards and to set
> them up.
>
> An alternative is Rene's STMBL driver which looks very nice but need
> another breakout board as far as I understand. If I make it to the
> Stuttgart meeting next weekend we might have a German solution to my
> problem. Who knows...
>
>


If you have existing (good) analog drives, a 7I77 makes the most sense since 
it will read the encoder directly and control the analog drives.

If you have a newer drive that has encoder feedback to the drive itself you 
can still be able to get the to work well with a 7I77 if the drive has a 
analog velocity mode and has emulated encoder outputs to feed back to LinuxCNC

Both above systems have advantage of having feedback to LinuxCNC this means 
you can for example disable the drives and not lose position and the homing to 
index is easy to set-up, in addition linuxcnc "knows" the actual position so 
the drive tuning and performance (following error )can be monitored from 
LinuxCNC.

I believe you have the same advantages with the STMBL drives




A basic step/dir drive would be easier to setup however...

>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 12, 2018 at 10:25 PM Sven Wesley <sve...@gm...> wrote:
>
>> These little babies. I have a few of them already and my kids have the i7
>> version and they are fast. Linux just runs, no trouble. One Ethernet and
>> Wifi in the same box. Perfect.
>> https://www.dustin.se/product/5011010658/nuc-kaby-lake-wifi
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 11, 2018 at 3:32 PM Eric Keller <kel...@gm...> wrote:
>>
>>> Which Intel NUC did you get?  A couple of years ago I got a zotac box with
>>> dual ethernet ports thinking that I might use it as either a router or to
>>> drive an ethernet mesa board.  I think it will end up as a router.
>>> Eric Keller
>>> Boalsburg, Pennsylvania
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jul 11, 2018 at 4:05 AM Sven Wesley <sve...@gm...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Yes, looks like your email with the link went to me and not to the list.
>>>> Anyway, the Mesa card looks promising. Intel NUC and Mesa boards on the
>>>> way!
>>>>
>>>> /S
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 5:14 PM Les Newell <les...@fa...>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I beat you to it with the same link but it looks like my email went
>>>>> directly to Sven, rather than to the list. For some reason when I
>>> reply
>>>>> to this list the replies usually end up going direct to the sender
>>>>> rather than to the list.
>>>>>
>>>>> Les
>>>>>
>>>>> On 10/07/2018 13:38, andy pugh wrote:
>>>>>> On 10 July 2018 at 11:47, Sven Wesley <sve...@gm...>
>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> You too late, Andy. ;)
>>>>>> Too late in the sense that you have already bought the UC400 ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
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>>
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Peter Wallace
Mesa Electronics

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