Is there a NI controller board that can control a 5-phase stepper motor?

[MicahNance]

I'm developing an application using Borland C++ Builder 6 under Windows 2000. I need to control a 5-phase motor from within my application. I have some old Keithley Metrabyte MSTEP-5 ISA boards that would work with the motor, but Borland doesn't allow direct port access to the boards to give them instructions. So, the second question would be: Would the aforementioned NI board be programmable using Borland C++ Builder 6?

[Doug_Kunz]

The driver for National Instruments Motion Controller boards, NI-Motion, does not support Borland C++.

Best Regards,

Doug K.
Application Engineer
National Instruments

[Intern2005]

Hello, I am developping an applicatiuon using LabView 7.1.
Could somenone help me to find a NI controller board that can control a 5-phase stepper motor Berger Lahr?
Thanks

[Jochen]

All NI-Motion boards (NI-733x, NI-734x, NI-735x) can control 5-phase stepper motors as this is not a feature of the motion control board but of the power drive. The motion control board always generates a step and direction signal (or if needed a CW/CCW signal). The drive then generates the power signal for the specific motor type.
If you want further advice about which type of NI motion controller to choose please provide some information about the type of movements you are planning to do (e. g. one axis linear, coordinated two axes, free contouring, gearing,...)

NI doesn't offer drives for 5-phase motors but I have searched for these kind of devices with Google and I have received loads of results. For smooth moves please make sure that the drive provides microstepping. There are a lot of cheap drives available that provide only full and half step mode but in most cases these are not preferable.

Best regards,

Jochen Klier
National Instruments Germany

[Intern2005]

Hello,

Basically, I am planning to do a one-axis linear move (A to B), and then a cycle move (A to B, B to A, ... x times, or x hours).
I was looking for a NI-Motion Board PCI-7334 and I would need 5-phase motor drives for a 5-phase stepper motor (Berger Lahr). I have already a steering card D550 (Berger Lahr D550), the maximal length of travel is 70 mm (but we usually just use 20 mm for the test on a sample). The velocity range is between (0 and 1 mm/s).

So which motherboard would you advise me, and what about the steering card I already have (D550 from Berger Lahr)?
Then, could you avise me on drives.

Thanks

[Jochen]

The PCI-7334 seems to be a good solution for this type of application. In fact a PCI-7332 should do the job if you don't need more than two axes.
I haven't found much information about the D550 but it looks like this is already a drive for 5-phase stepper motors. I think you will need only a cable and the UMI-7764 (active breakout box for the 73xx) to connect to this drive. It would be great if you could provide a datasheet for the D550 as I wasn't able to find one.

Jochen

[Intern2005]

Alright for the Universal Motion Interface (UMI-7764).

Firstly, the equipment I am focused on a is friction machine test and I would like to know if the static friction compensation (NI 7340 Series) is an important factor (probably for this kind of test)?

Then, the D550 or 650X0/X1 (Berger Lahr) are the steering cards for the 5-phase stepper motor (same manufacturer).
Here are the specifications:

- Operating voltage: 70...130 VDC
- Power input: max. 8A
- Adjustable achievement: max. 1000 W
- Rated current: 2...5 A/Phase
- Dynamic current increase by Boost I_Boost=100...190% In
max. 6A/Phase
- Engine line: Length <100m, cross section of a line >= 075 mm2
R_Lmax < 2 Ohm)
- Signal voltage for D 650.00/D 650.50: 20V...30V
D 650.01/D 650.51: 2,5V...5,25V
- Input currents: typ. 10 mA
- Signal frequency (pulse entrance): max. 100 kHz
- Relay contact exit change-over switch): 36 VDC / 30VAC,0,2 A
- Operating temperature: 0...55°C
- Storage temperature: 0...70°C
- Dampness class: "F" DIN 40400
- Mechanical dimensions:
- Weight: 1,3 kg


Moreover, I have an incremental linear encoder attached (Heidenhain LIDA 201) connected to adaptor EXE 6190B
for measuring the displacement of the stepper motor. The adaptor EXE 602, 605, 610 outputs a voltage between 1.4 and 4 volts, 1.4 and 4 volts, 0.4 and 1.7 volts, a frequency range from 0 to 50 Hz, and an operating voltage 5 volts +/-5% / 120 mA.

[Rodj]

The Static Friction support is for Servo Motor systems. The features on the NI-7340 motion controller for static friction will not apply to a stepper system.

Rodger S.

[Jochen]

1. Static friction compensation is a feature that is only used with servo and piezo motors. For steppers these settings are irrelevant. For detailed information please follow this link.
2. Thanks for providing the information about the D550. I'm not sure what is meant with signal voltage. If this is the voltage of the step signal that needs to be provided by the motion controller please make sure that your device supports the 2,5V...5,25V range as this is the voltage level provided by the PCI-733x boards.
3. Does the LIDA 201 generate a sine/cosine signal or a quadrature encoder type signal (= two 90° phase shifted square signals)? You said you want to use this device for measuring the displacement so I don't think, you want to use it as a feedback device for closed loop operation. Is this correct?
4. What exactly do you want to measure? Do you want to measure the number of lost steps of the motor or do you want to measure the slip of any other mechanical part? Do you want to do time based measurements or position based measurements? Depending on your application you might need another device like an M-Series board for taking the measurements

Jochen

[Intern2005]

1. I agree absolutely with you for static friction compensation (no point for stepper motor)

2. I have to check if the steering card connected top the stepper motor is the D 650.01/D 650.51, because the signal voltage is 2,5...5,25V. Otherwise, it would be for D 650.00/D 650.50 a signal voltage 20...30V.

3. I will check tomorrow with an oscilloscope at the end of the box (EXE 6190B) if the signal is squared (=2 90° signals shifted square).

4. Basically, the test equipment is running with an old HP program. The program asks the user to give a length of displacement for the axis (usually 20 mm). And there's a quartz force transducer that measures the friction force (or tangential force).
The LIDA measures the displacement as well. I have not designed yet the upgraded program but I think I could use it actually as a feedback device for closed loop operation. So I'd like to do with LabView a position based measurements.

Now, I still don't know if I must measure the length number of lost steps of the motor or if I must measure the slip of any other mechanical part? What do you think is the best solution, or the most common way to proceed?