Hostmot2 or Pluto-P ???

[epineh]

Hi all, I am now in the planning/gathering stage for my next machine, I intend to use EMC to close the loop, but want better pulse rates than standard P-Port speed.

So I have decided to use either a Pluto-P or MESA card most likely 7i43 and Hostmot2 firmware.

My questions are which is easier to setup (for non guru's like me) and also which is more stable ?

I am currently using EMC2 on my first machine but with step/dir servo drives of my own design. I have configured this completely using stepconf so HAL and I have not been properly introduced

I realize there are several other options but these two are most suited to my needs (I think)

All input appreciated.

Russell.

[Big John T]

The following links are for the 2.3 docs (scheduled to be released early this year) which is what I assume you will be using as you mention hostmot2.

http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/h...basic_hal.html

http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/h..._hostmot2.html

http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/h...s_pluto_p.html

With all that said I have a 5i20 due in today and will be adding the setup of that card to the Hardware Examples section of the Integrators manual as soon as I finish learning all I can about it.

http://www.linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/

Peter from Mesa is quite active on the EMC mailing list.

You don't mention if you plan on using steppers or servos... As for steppers I'm able to get step pulses as fast as I need them to run my plasma table at >400IPM. If your wanting to "close the loop" with encoder feedback on a stepper that is not a simple task AFAIK. Using the 5i20 with a 7i33 for servos seems to be a popular choice.

When you get a chance join the mailing list and ask about the Mesa and Pluto over there as that is where the experts hang out... (wish we had an EMC home forum)

John

[samco]

the mesa hardware is just made better. (I use the pluto for testing but mesa for actually running the machine) (when I get that far)

sam

[epineh]

Originally Posted by Big John T You don't mention if you plan on using steppers or servos... As for steppers I'm able to get step pulses as fast as I need them to run my plasma table at >400IPM. If your wanting to "close the loop" with encoder feedback on a stepper that is not a simple task AFAIK. Using the 5i20 with a 7i33 for servos seems to be a popular choice.

Oops, my bad, I intend to use servo's, I have existing step/dir servo drives (Elm Chan's) that have proven power stages for me at least, I will use mostly the same layout with a few minor changes and let EMC do the smarts.

Thanks for the links John, I will go through them tonight.

Originally Posted by samco the mesa hardware is just made better. (I use the pluto for testing but mesa for actually running the machine) (when I get that far) sam

Yeah I am leaning towards the 7i43 as you say it is just put together better, the connectors on the Pluto are difficult to use as they are all over the place, I like the MESA layout much better.

Thanks for the help guys

Russell.