Re: 5-axis machine controller

["D.F.S." <dfs-at-xmission.com>]

> 
> 
> Marc and list,
> It sounds like you could do with the ZipEMC CDROM. I have it loaded on with
> "another OS" dual booting. I had a few problems with basic video config
> getting X server started and setting the "run and ini" files up. I succeeded
> in using the step/direction mode driving hacked floppy drives. I could copy
> it and send it to you I think. 

Thanks for the offer, I'll give what I have an honest try first. I hope I have
everything for the moment.

> I am waiting on spare $ to get drivers and
> motors to work some hardware with.

Money? Who needs money?
Really, my first cut at this shouldn't cost more than 10 bucks in parts.
I hope.

> 
> I am a little cornfused as to some of the other responses about "phase
> driving with EMC. I was under the impression that there is a 2 bit phase
> output meant to drive a particular machine that had that type of driver.

That is sure what I get from reading it as well. 
It is a driver for specific hardware.
BUT, something I never did see mentioned is if I'm reading it correctly you
should be able to simply stick a pair of 74139 TTL Dual 2-to-4 Decoder Chips
on the outputs and off you go. The 2 bits select ONE of 4 outputs wired
to each of 4 phase driving transistors and you are done.

You can't drive more than one phase at a time and so won't be able to 1/2 step
but this is almost as simple as directly driving the 4 phases from 4 bits.
It would allow twice as many motors to be driven from a regular parallel port.


> I don't know if this is helping any and request any clarification from
> others.

Yes it did, the pointer to the archive helped a LOT.