Re: FPGA for PCI based servo control board

["alex" <telecomt-at-tht.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Robin Szemeti <robin-at-rszemeti.demon.co.uk>
To: Multiple recipients of list <emc-at-nist.gov>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: FPGA for PCI based servo control board


>
> On Thursday 03 April 2003 19:15, alex wrote:
> > Why not to use a SBC/cheap computer, networked to main EMC machine?
> > It already comes with ISA bus. FPGA board can be plugged in into it.
> > Then all the real time functionallity from Linux can be unloaded into it
as
> > well,
>
> Thats a good idea! ... and offload all the 'hard realtime' stuff to that
> outboard box .. hmmm that has a lot of very positive benefits. I'd suggest
> that the 'cheap computer' is a far better way to go than the 'SBC' as a
2nd
> user PC can be picked up for a few dollars, yet even a basic industrial
SBC
> is lots more ... the PC would also be already in an enclosure, with a
> powersupply etc, so overall that would seem to be the best choice.

SBC will be always in production. One I found is $119 qty one.
>
> I guess it would be easiest if we ran a linux kernel on it rather than
> anything else, network it to the main EMC machine and just send motion
> commands to it.  It would probably have to run a realtime linux though ...
>
> Another thought I had while thinking about this is that PC's are getting
> faster and faster ,, there might even be enough processor power in the PC
to
> provide some signals for stepper motors *without* the need for a custom
PCI
> or ISA card, sure would make it simpler for the hobby users who don;t need
> blistering step rates.

DOS would be a better choice. With WATTCP as a network interface. Its free
now.
>
> I don't know what you'd call such a thing though .. Extended Machine
> Controller ... that runs nicely .. EMC hmmm ...  I'm sure I've heard that
> name before somewhere ....
>
> must go ... I'm involved in a working party to produce a design for
providing
> a simple form of motion assistance for heavy loads .. we're at a crucial
> stage now .. one of the team has had a breakthrough and discovered that a
> large circular shaped object can be persuaded to roll very easily ...
next
> up we're going to try a circular flat disc to see if that works just as
well

Funny, but I'm struggling with the same problem now. Thinking of a piece of
2x4
impregnated with grease.
> .
>
> --
> Robin Szemeti

Regards, Alex