Replacing a Traditional Motion Control Card with a Small PC with Softmotion

[Norcal]

Hi,

I'm totally new to Softmotion. So my questions might be very naive.

Anyway, we are currently using a Deltatau motion controller with three motor drives. The drives are all linear type and the motion controller provides the commutation. The motion controller is kind of expensive, a few $k. So I'm thinking, if it is possible to use a small embedded PC for a few $$$ and load it with the Softmotion software and control the drives.

So a few questions:

1) Can the Softmotion perform decoding if I connect the A/B encoder signal to the digital I/O of the embedded PC?

2) Can the Softmotion perform commutation and output the A/B signals with DAC?

3) I assume connecting the limit switches to the I/O should be no problem for the Softmotion to pickup.

4) What is the cost of the Softmotion per copy?

Anyway, those are my questions today. Is there anybody who might have done it this wya before?

Thanks,

Jay

[alcava.cr]

Hi Jay,

Take a look at this tutorial for acquiring a basic knowledge of what the software can do, but more important, what hardware setup you need to do this tasks.

There are several approaches (CompactRIO, PCI, PXI) but fundamentally NI handles 3 types of signals (CCW, CW which are Direction & step. Plus a drive enable) that we use for controlling motor drives. If your drive accepts these signals we could say you could potentially use NI products to interface with it.

I encourage you to talk to one of our local sales engineers for more information.