Is gecko coming out with a

[CNCadmin]

Closed loop stepper drive?

[ger21]

He's working on what he calls an "unstallable" stepper drive. I believe at the moment it's research only, no product announcements have been made yet. He has said that in the next few months they will be releasing the G200X, here's a quote from Mariss from the Gecko group on Yahoo.

The G200X (G2002, G2003, etc.) is moving along quickly now. We are
shooting for a late April or early May hardware release date.

A lot of big things are settled now; dimensions, interface, packaging
etc. I just got the first 10 proto boards today, buzzed them out and
found a few goofs. No fatal mistakes; nothing an Exacto knife can't
fix.

Hardware release means the miserable board works. It means the
software wonks can use it to do their magic. Here's what they will
have:

1) 6 axis of STEP and DIRECTION. Max rate, over 4MHz.
2) 6 axis of quadrature input including index. 1 MHz max.
3) 16 general purpose outputs. 24V, 100mA, diode clamped.
4) 22 general purpose inputs. 24V tolerant, SPST to ground.
5) USB powered, USB inteface.
6) Ethernet capable.
7) 4 Analog inputs, 0 to 5V range; protected to +/-24V.
8) 4 Analog outputs, 0 to 5V range; protected to +/-24V.
9) Autonomous operation; program, disconnect, run.
10) Updatable via the internet.
11) Package dimensions 2.5" by 1.25" by 7.25"
12) LED indicators for every input and output except analog.
13) Bare-wire 3.5mm terminal blocks. 96 positions in all.
14) PLC capable.
15) Anodized aluminum enclosure.
16) No jumers anywhere. Everything is PC configurable.

Art has said that Mach2 will support this, but no time frame has been announced.

Gecko will also soon be releasing the G204 drive, as well. Similar to G201's, with some added features.

[ynneb]

Ger, does PLC capable mean that you dont need a computer to drive them or that the PLC will tell the computer when to do its next CNC action? How can the two interact with each other?

BTW Thanks for the horse.

[ger21]

I don't really know. There is some discussion about that right now on the Geckodrive group. All I know is that if I ever finish my first router, if this thing works with Mach2, it'll be going in the second one.