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From: a186430@moe.dseg.ti.com (Andrew Cilia)
Subject: STEPPER/PWM description
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Organization: Texas Instruments
Date: Mon, 10 May 1993 22:30:16 GMT
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 Several people wanted a description on the Stepper motor controller, so here 
it is:

 The STEPCONTROL is connected to the parallel port of a IBM type PC, it also
has a connector where you can daisy-chain aditional STEPCONTROL boards or (in the
future) sensor boards, A/D, D/A, bipolar stepper, etc. Up to four boards can be
 connected to one PC, eight if you use both printer ports. 

 It has twelve 500mA outputs that can be configurated to drive three or four phase
steppers, or the outputs can be controlled independentely, or any mix of steppers and
outputs. It requires a external power supply (6 to 36V).

It also provides four TTL inputs (pulled high) that are used for home sensing, but
can be used for something else.

The software takes an ASCII file that lists the desired stepper positions, it then
moves the steppers to that positions and reads the next line. Speed of the steppers 
can be changed on the fly.

For the discrete outputs the software reads values between 0 and 100 and PWM the
outputs to that percentage, for the duration of time specified on that line.

Also includes plans and software for a milling machine (XYZ table) that takes an image
 (400x400) and cuts it in wood or any soft material. (cost of materials <$150) 

Software and plans for a three axis robotic arm and a robotic mouse are on the works.

Programming exaples on BASIC, PASCAL and C are included.

The PC is protected from the external power by a set of buffers, and also by the
buffers on the printer card. 

If everything goes on schedule it should be available by the end of May, price is $55.


   Andrew Cilia
   CILIATRON Corp.

 




