Laptop Motion Controller

[Daklu]

This isn't a Labview-specific idea but there isn't a category for hardware, so I'll post it here and let the moderators decide what to do with it.

I'd really like to see a motion controller that works with laptops.  I use a laptop as my main dev computer and it's really a hassle to have to load Labview on the target computer and transporting source code back and forth so I can do dev testing using the real hardware.  Ideally it would be functionally identical to the current controller cards but I'd be okay if it lost a few features or didn't perform quite as fast.

(I do use a simulated controller when I can, but for many situations it's just not helpful.) 

[Nate.H]

Hi Daklu,

There is a slightly different solution that is comparable in cost:

• NI 9148 Ethernet Expansion chassis
• NI Drive Interface C Series Modules (NI 9512, NI 9514, NI 9516)

This chassis connects over ethernet to a PC, and you don't need LV FPGA or LV RT to program it. You code in LabVIEW with the NI SoftMotion module on your Laptop. When click run, the program will send high level command to the deterministic SoftMotion engine running on the NI 9148. The softmotion engine handles all the functions traditionally handled by the motion control card (supervisory control, trajectory generation, limit monitoring, etc...) Connectivity to the drive is handled through the drive interface modules, which are one axis per module, and contain all necessary drive communication and feedback I/O.

Advantages over Plug-in 73xx Motion Cards:

• Programming with softmotion, including a much better simulated axis experience
• 8 C Series slots for mixed stepper/servo systems, other types of I/O in the system
• More modular system: can target over ethernet, and run one cable further, rather than having to place the PC very close to the actual system.

For a 2 axis stepper system with the same drives and motors, you are looking at within $200 of a comparable plug-in card system, with more functionality, a better software experience, and flexibility for expansion.

SoftMotion 9148 System
Part Number	Description	Quantity	Unit Price	Price
781502-01	NI 9148 Ethernet Expansion chassis for C Series Modules	1	$     999.00	$     999.00
779944-01	NI 9512 Single Axis Stepper Drive Interface Module	2	$     699.00	$  1,398.00
780552-01	P7000 Stepper Drives Connectivity Bundle	2	$     105.00	$     210.00
				$  2,607.00

PCI Plug-in
Part Number	Description	Quantity	Unit Price	Price
778916-02	NI PCI-7342	1	$  1,299.00	$  1,299.00
186380-02	SHC68-C68-S, 68 pin VHDCI to 68 pin VHDCI, 2m	2	$     149.00	$     298.00
778558-01	UMI-7774 4-Axis Motion Interface w/D-Sub Conn	1	$     749.00	$     749.00
198141-2R5	D-Sub Cable: P7000 Step Drive to UMI 7774, 2.5 m	2	$        29.00	$        58.00
				$  2,404.00

[Daklu]

Thanks for the tip Nate.

I haven't used SoftMotion before.  Is it compatible with the 73xx motion controllers or do they require completely different APIs?  I guess what I'm really asking is if I can develop a solution using my laptop and the eRIO and then deploy it to a desktop computer with a 73xx card installed?

[Darren]

Any idea that has not received any kudos within a year after posting will be automatically declined.