SimpleMotion control library

[Xerxes]

Hi Folks,

I'm going to release a software library called SimpleMotion in matter of days. Some features:

• Command VSD drives from PC thru the USB adapter (same which is used with GDtool).
• Designed for ultimate simplicity, single command will move motors. Not even initialization needed.
• Connect up to 100 drives to PC. Each drive is connected with own USB cable (if necessary, use USB hubs to extend number of USB ports).
• The first version designed for point-to-point position, controlled velocity or controlled torque applications.
• CNC like contouring not (yet) possible (will need USB7AX hardware, which is under development).
• Free, open source and GPL. Port it to any platform including microcontrollers.
• Simple integration (as DLL) to almost any programmable language without modifications. Including C/C++/C#/VisualBasic/Matlab/LabVIEW.

I will be posting details as I progress.

BR,
Tero

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[Xerxes]

A working C-language "hello world" program using SimpleMotion. It will move AXIS_X to position 1234567 (steps or counts).

#include "simplemotion.h"

main()
{
    smCommand( "AXIS_X", "ABSTARGET", 1234567 );
}

[scrambled]

Tero-

Will this allow me to program, and monitor both of my X and A axis on my gantry?

Would I need to unplug the VSDEPI?


Steve

[Xerxes]

Do you mean like plotting following error value graph or something while using Mach? By drive design, it's possible to use step/dir and SPI simultaneously. However, I need to do some tests to see how it can be done while using VSDEPI.

[scrambled]

Tero-

That would be an great tool to help try to resolve some of the issues that I had.

Keep us posted on the great work.


Steve

[asuratman]

Tero,
The software is downloadable. Does this software will simplify programming?

[Xerxes]

Demonstration about how easy it is to create motion control app using LabVIEW + SimpleMotion library. This one is my first ever LV app and it took less than 10 minutes to figure out how to create it.

This program does same thing as the C-code example in the earlier post.

[scrambled]

Tero-

How is this project going? I finally think I have all (most) of the bugs worked out on my plasma table. I am going to start to tune the servos better.

Right now my servos are not accel. and decel. in a linear line. When the axis starts, it moves 2-3 cm then rapidly starts moving. It acts like it has a delay.

If I could monitor what is going on with the servo as MACH is driving it, then I would know what to try to fix it.


Steve

[Xerxes]

Doing progress. Today I finished a simple example app for SimpleMotion. From your request (+few others) I'm also planning to create sample app for realtime monitoring.

[scrambled]

Thanks Tero!!

Will it be able to monitor 2 drives at the same time? Since some of the plasma tables and routers have a x and a axis on one gantry.


Steve

[Xerxes]

There should be no problem using multiple scopes at a time recording. Each drive will need own USB adapter then.

[the_unexpected]

Hi Xerxes,

are you doing progress with the libary?
When it is to reckon with a first beta version?

thank you

[Xerxes]

You can download SimpleMotion pre-release library & testing app from this link:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/02mw2m...est_binary.zip

Feel free to try the testing app and let us know how it worked. Source codes need some cleanup and documentation to be released. The ZIP contains .dll and .h files so it can be already used in programs.

[scrambled]

Tero-

When I try to run the simplemotion.exe file, about half way through the install I get the following error--

FTD2XX.dll was not found.

I downloaded the program twice and I got the same results.

any ideas?


Steve

[Xerxes]

Tero-

When I try to run the simplemotion.exe file, about half way through the install I get the following error--

FTD2XX.dll was not found.

Have you installed USB cable drivers and plugged cable in?
If yes and still not working, you can copy ftd2xx.dll from GDtool or DCtool installation folder to tester app folder.

[scrambled]

Tero-

I have not installed any of the USB drivers or have the drive connected. I was just going to look at the program here in the house before I went to the shop.

I will try it on the shop computer on either SAT or SUN.


thanks


Steve

[Xerxes]

Web site for SimpleMotion is under design right now:

http://granitedevices.fi/index.php?q=simplemotion

Soon there will be first release to download.

[Xerxes]

SimpleMotion pre-release can be downloaded from:
http://www.students.tut.fi/~kontkant...2.0-prerel.zip

Only documentation is not fully finished. Final release happens in matter of days.

[Xerxes]

The first official version release is today! Download the library, documentation and example programs from:

http://granitedevices.fi/index.php?q=simplemotion

The package contains compiled SimpleMotionTest program which is ready to run right after extracting the download package (requires FTDI drivers or GDtool on machine).

[cobree]

This was working great, just add the .dll and use the VI. I had a problem with the FTDI chip , because I was running through a USB hub with more FTDI to USB, but it was only to change name to "AXIS_Y" or whatever, than it worked. I have started to do some LabView class if any interested i can post this.

// Conny