switching between 2 controllers ????

[jubee]

I have posted this on a different thread with no response,
so I thought maybe I should have posted it here to begin with,,,,so here goes..

Hi All,

Anyone out there in the know if there is some way ,by the means of a simple 2 position switch that can control 2 controllers,one at a time.

I have a simple DSP hand controller that attaches to a card,which provides the ,step/direction, spindle on/off ,and home positions ,which is very easy to use for simple jobs but very limited,however I would like to keep this setup,
Also I have a GREX G100 operating under Mach3 and would also like to keep this setup,

So is there any electronic board or switch that I can attach both the DSP and G100 signals to and be able to switch from one to the other.

Any help or ideas would by great.
Thanks
Regards
Jubee

[vger]

I'm not quite clear on your question. Is the "DSP hand controller" a stand-alone manual pendant type device ? Does it's card connect to the motors directly or through seperate motor drivers ? Do you intend to do "hot swapping" IE switching from one to the other with power on both ?

Maybe a bit more information

Steve

[jubee]

Thanks Steve for you reply,

The DSP hand controller is attached to a sort of breakout card,wires come from the breakout card to the stepper motor drives ,also to the home switches(24v),and to the vfd where it turns on and off.
The G100 is connected to the drives,home switchs ,vfd the same way.

As I would only be using one at a time ,power only needs to be connected to
one of them at a given time,so they dont have to be hot switched.

Would it be possible to connect all the output volts/signals togeather
ie X direction pulse (DSP) to X direction pulse (G100) and so on and so
and just have a power switch to the applicable controller.

I hope this makes some sense.
Thanks for helping
Regards
Jubee.

[vger]

Ok, I see now. You might possibly get away with putting them in parallel but it's not advisable. Something might be ruined by having them connected that way or at very least not work right.

Since most all the connections are low voltage, or low current at least, you should be able to use a switch very easily. You may be wondering where to get a switch with that many connections. One easy solultion would be an A/B switch used for connecting 2 printers to one computer. Nice neat little box with a two position switch that switches all 25 wires on DB25 connectors.

http://www.acoustilog.com/forsale/1793.jpg

You can probably pick one up at a used computer shop in your area. Grab three identical (so internal wire colors match) cables with ends that will connect to the A/B switch while you are at it. You will have to cut one end off each cable and connect the wires individually. Hook the A connector wires to the DSP controller, the B connector wires to the G100, and the Common connector wires to the stepper drives/switches. Should work.

Steve

[jubee]

EXCELLENT,
Thanks Steve,
Will give it ago .

Would you think the data cable/A/B switch would handle
the home switches,I understand they are 24v ,unsure of the current.

Thanks Again
Regards
jubee

[vger]

Take a look at what the 24 V from the home switches goes to if possible. If they go to an IC (possibly through a resistor) then you should be fine. The actual switches in the A/B switch boxes are generally capable of handling much more than just logic level currents. Not switching them when power is applied is a plus also. Current capacity of the contacts of switches is much higher than their switching current. If you are still concerned, since you have 25 poles in the switch, just use several of the poles for the home switch wires. 1 wire for X pules, 1 wire for X direction, 1 wire for Y pulse..... , 4 wires for home switches, 1 wire for vfd on/off.

Enjoy
Steve

[jubee]

Thanks again Steve,
Will try it out,
Just purchased one of ebay for $5 bucks,cant go wrong.
When you say have alook at what it goes to ,I/C ...whats That?

Regards
Jubee