Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Mark Rivers <[email protected]> · Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:34:05 +0000

Hi Mark,

I think that to make a useful recommendation on this it would help to know more about the requirements.

- How many axes?
- Do you have VME infrastructure already available?
- Do you plan to use encoders?
- How important is cost per axis?
- What are the performance requirements?
  - Microstepping?
  - Coordinated motion?
  - Closed loop feedback if you have encoders?

For example, Tim's suggestion of the MAXv would be best suited if you already have VME, and don't need closed loop encoder feedback or very fine microstepping.  The XPS or Delta Tau, on the other hand can do closed loop feedback, very fine microstepping, and coordinated motion.

If you only have a few axes and no VME there are solutions like the ACS MCB-4B that are about $400 per axis, while many other solutions are $1,000-$1,500 per axis.

Mark

________________________________________
From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of Mark Davis [[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2015 9:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Stepper Motor Controllers

Hi all,

I am currently in the process of reviewing the capabilities of DC
Stepper Motor Controller/Drivers and was wondering what other labs are
currently using and what they like/dislike about them.

I have read Matthew Pearson's summary from 8/2010 regarding the Delta
Tau VME Turbo PMAC 2, Delta Tau Geobrick LVM, Newport XPS.

 From his description, I assume the Delta Tau Geobrick LV is a
significantly different device (at least physically) than the Geobrick
LVM.  At the very least LV is MUCH smaller (15.4" x 4" x 7.2").  It is
still a PMAC2 based controller, but they make a point of the elimination
of analog signaling:

      "The absence of analog signals – required for typical motion
controller/drive interfacing – enables higher gains, better overall
performance and tighter integration, while significantly decreasing
costs and setup time."

This may explain how they managed to make it so much smaller the the LVM
model (which, as near as I can tell, they no longer make).  It might
also help avoid the noise problem that Matthew mentioned regarding the
LVM model.

 From reading various other Tech-talk postings my impression is that the
Delta Tau PMAC controllers are very capable, but complex and require a
lot of effort to get set up correctly.  However, that may be mitigated
to some extent by using the synApps tpmac module (and BNL's page
regarding setup and configuration).

What other controllers are being used?  What are the advantages,
disadvantages, and problems that have been encountered?

Mark Davis
NSCL/FRIB
[email protected]

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System